Veterinary Anesthesia Lab
Curriculum guideline
Lab: 20 hours/semester
This is a lab-only course. Practical anesthesia skills will be taught and practiced in-person using canine and feline models (including cadavers).
Pharmacology:
- sedative, anesthetic and analgesic drugs
- drug calculations
- methods of drug administration
- controlled drug log
Anesthetic planning and equipment
- patient risk assessment
- equipment choice and maintenance
- anesthetic protocols
- anesthetic monitoring equipment
- anesthetic breathing systems, circuits and ancillary equipment
- compressed and waste gas safety
General anesthesia
- sedation and anesthetic drug administration
- endotracheal intubation and safe cuff inflation
- anesthetic support including fluid therapy, heat supplementation and assisted breathing
- stages of anesthesia
- cardiovascular and respiratory system monitoring
- problem solving equipment errors
- identification and treatment of abnormal vitals signs
- anesthetic emergencies
- recovery and post-anesthetic monitoring and care
- anesthetic monitoring forms and controlled drug logs
Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to:
- discuss the pharmacology and administration routes of drugs used for analgesia, sedation and anesthesia;
- calculate sedative, anesthetic and analgesic drug dosages and describe their physiological effects;
- assess patient risk for anesthesia using the American Society of Anesthesiologists scoring system;
- choose appropriate anesthetic protocols according to patient risk;
- describe patient preparation for anesthesia including pre-sedation medication protocols;
- demonstrate safe medication preparation and draw up;
- set up, and safely use, inhalant anesthetic machines and breathing circuits;
- administer sedative, anesthetic and analgesic drug dosages;
- safely place and maintain an endotracheal tube in a dog or cat;
- use anesthetic monitoring equipment such as doppler and oscillometric blood pressure monitors, ECG, capnograph and pulse oximeter;
- assess patient anesthetic depth and stage of anesthesia;
- monitor vital signs and troubleshoot abnormal vital signs;
- provide patient support during anesthesia including fluid therapy and heat supplementation;
- safely demonstrate procedures for assisted breathing during general anesthesia;
- discuss patient recovery procedures and potential compiications;
- accurately record data onto anesthetic monitoring charts, logs and medical records;
- identify anesthetic emergencies and discuss the use of emergency drugs and equipment.
Assessment will be in accordance with the Douglas College Evaluation Policy. The instructor will present a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.
This course will use a Mastery-based assessment. Students will receive a Mastery ("MAS") grade based on attendance at a minimum of 80% of the scheduled laboratory hours and successful completion of all learning outcomes.
Consult the Douglas College Bookstore for the latest required textbooks and materials. Example textbooks and materials may include:
- Thomas & Lerche (Current Edition). Anesthesia & Analgesia for the Veterinary Technician. Elsevier.
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