The student will be able to:

1. Describe the role of the veterinary technician during the anesthetic event.
2. Perform a thorough pre-anesthetic evaluation of a veterinary patient and develop a comprehensive anesthetic plan.
3. Perform a thorough post-anesthetic evaluation of a veterinary patient and develop a nursing care plan.
4. Identify and explain the function of each of the components of the veterinary anesthesia machine.
5. Recognize, critically evaluate, and respond appropriately to common anesthetic problems and emergencies.
6. Describe the effects of anesthesia on the nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems.
7. Demonstrate the essential clinical skills related to anesthesiology.
8. Explain general principles of inhalation anesthesia and successfully manage a veterinary patient.
9. Demonstrate competence in the induction, monitoring, maintenance, and recovery of a veterinary patient under inhalant anesthesia.
10. Demonstrate competency in the use of manual methods of ventilation.
11. Participate in four common surgeries in small animal practice.
12. Participate in a minimum of one complete oral health assessment and treatment under anesthesia for a dog or a cat.

1. Role of the veterinary technician in anesthesia
2. Pre-anesthetic evaluation and development of comprehensive anesthetic plan
   1. Pre-anesthetic patient history
   2. Physical examination
   3. Appropriate laboratory testing using equipment commonly found in clinical practices (CBC, chemistry analyzer, PCV, TP)
   4. Anesthetic risk/patient status (ASA)
   5. Anesthetic plan
   6. Animal care to program standards, based on the Animal Welfare Act
3. Recovery, post-anesthetic evaluation
   1. Body temperature
   2. Extubation timing, risks, technique
   3. Critical considerations in the recovery period
4. Anesthesia machine
   1. Principles of inhalation anesthesia
   2. Components, function, and use of the anesthetic machine
   3. Active and passive scavenging systems
   4. Safety considerations
   5. Re-breathing and non-rebreathing patient circuits
   6. Equipment care and maintenance
5. Common anesthetic problems and emergencies
   1. Patient monitoring
6. Effects of anesthesia on the nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems
   1. Assessment of anesthetic depth
   2. Stages and planes of anesthesia
   3. Assessment of physiological status
   4. Level of consciousness
   5. Interpretation of ocular signs
   6. Assessment of reflexes
   7. Assessment of muscle tone
   8. Assessment of pain perception
   9. Physical parameters (TPR, mucous membrane color, CRT, jaw tone, reflexes, eye position)
   10. Monitoring equipment
       1. Pulse oximetry
       2. Capnography
       3. ECG
       4. Blood pressure
       5. Multiparameter monitoring
7. Essential clinical skills related to anesthesiology
   1. Intravenous catheterization
   2. Calculation of fluid rates and volumes
   3. Fluid rates for different times of anesthesia
   4. Fluid pumps
   5. Drug selection and calculation
   6. Endotracheal intubation
   7. Patient preparation for dog spay, cat spay, dog neuter, cat neuter surgical procedures
      1. Positioning
      2. Clipping and scrubbing
      3. Moving into surgery
      4. Special considerations in pregnant patients
      5. Special considerations in cryptorchid patients
8. Principles of inhalation anesthesia and successfully manage a veterinary patient
   1. Balanced anesthesia
9. Patient care under inhalant anesthesia
   1. Local anesthesia
   2. Anesthetic records
   3. Record keeping for controlled drugs
   4. Common veterinary procedures
      1. Dog and cat spay
      2. Dog and cat neuter
      3. Dental prophylaxis (complete oral health assessment and treatment or COHAT)
10. Manual methods of ventilation
11. Surgical assisting
    1. Suturing and appropriate handling of live tissue
    2. Surgical scrubbing; donning and doffing of PPE (gowns and gloves)
    3. Surgical scrub nurse etiquette
12. Oral health assessment and treatment under anesthesia for a dog or a cat

Laboratory content will closely follow the course outline of record. Students will be in anesthesia groups and work on live animals under direct supervision in performing the following tasks:

1. Role of the veterinary technician in anesthesia
2. Pre-anesthetic evaluation and development of comprehensive anesthetic plan
3. Recovery: post-anesthetic evaluation
4. Anesthesia machine
5. Common anesthetic problems and emergencies
6. Effects of anesthesia on the nervous, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems
7. Essential clinical skills related to anesthesiology
8. Principles of inhalation anesthesia and successfully manage a veterinary patient
9. Patient care under inhalant anesthesia
10. Manual methods of ventilation
11. Surgical assisting
12. Oral health assessment and treatment under anesthesia for a dog or a cat

Performance assessments for the different tasks on an anesthesia team
Completing peer evaluations
Evaluation of care for animals on campus

Lecture
Discussion
Demonstrations
Cooperative learning exercises
Practicing skills on live animals as would be performed in a veterinary hospital under direct supervision of RVT and DVM faculty

Thomas, J.A., and P. Lerch. Anesthesia and Analgesia for Veterinary Technicians. 2020.

1. Weekly reading assignments of approx. 15 pages
2. Animal care as described in the Veterinary Technology Program Animal Care Handbook, with emphasis on pre- and post-operative care of surgical patients
3. Cleaning and maintaining surgical facility and equipment