The student will be able to:

1. Define terms in veterinary anesthesia
2. Describe the role of the veterinary technician in the anesthetic event
3. Develop a comprehensive anesthetic plan, from intake through recovery
4. Explain best practices in anesthetic monitoring
5. Develop nursing care plans for various ASA level patients
6. Identify and explain the function of each of the components of the veterinary anesthesia machine
7. Explain how to recognize and respond to common anesthetic problems and emergencies
8. Explain how anesthesia affects the nervous system
9. Explain how anesthesia affects the cardiovascular system
10. Explain how anesthesia affects the respiratory system
11. Discuss the indications for manual and mechanical ventilation techniques
12. Describe common veterinary procedures
13. Explain the common protocols and procedures used in large animals
14. Explain the principles of local anesthesia and list the common protocols and procedures
15. Explain the principles of rabbit and rodent anesthesia and list the common protocols and procedures

1. Orientation to course
   1. History of veterinary anesthesia
   2. Definitions
      1. Analgesia
      2. Sedation and hypnosis
      3. Anesthesia
      4. Local anesthesia
      5. General anesthesia
   3. Indications for sedation and types of anesthesia in veterinary medicine
2. Role of the veterinary technician in anesthesia
   1. Member of the veterinary team
   2. Legal requirements
   3. Responsibility to patient, client, practice
3. Developing an anesthetic plan
   1. Pre-anesthetic patient evaluation
      1. History, physical exam, minimum data base, ancillary tests
      2. Assignment of anesthetic risk/patient status
      3. Formulation of anesthetic plan
   2. Pre-anesthetic drugs
      1. Anticholinergics
      2. Tranquilizers
      3. Narcotics
      4. Alpha-2 agonists
      5. Dissociatives
   3. Induction agents
      1. Propofol
      2. Alfaxalone
      3. Benzodiazepines
      4. Dissociatives
   4. Gas anesthesia
      1. Intubation
      2. MAC and partition coefficients
      3. Isoflurane
      4. Sevoflurane
      5. Nitrous oxide
   5. Recovery
      1. Extubation timing and procedure
      2. Monitoring during recovery
4. Monitoring anesthesia
   1. Stages and planes
   2. Documentation
   3. Interpretation of physical signs
   4. Interpretation of instrument derived data
      1. Use of: esophageal stethoscope, blood pressure monitor, capnometer, electrocardiogram, pulse oximeter
5. Develop a nursing care plan
   1. Patient evaluation
      1. Vital signs
      2. Pain assessment
      3. Nutritional needs
      4. Fluid needs
      5. Positioning
      6. Anesthesia for sick patients, special considerations
6. Components, function, and use of the anesthetic machine
   1. Compressed gases
      1. Types
      2. Safety considerations
   2. Anesthetic vaporizers
   3. Breathing circuits
   4. Scavenging systems
   5. Health hazards in occupational exposure
   6. Care and maintenance
   7. Waste anesthetic gas
7. Common anesthetic problems and emergencies
   1. Prevention
   2. Recognition
   3. Nursing interventions
   4. Assembling an emergency "crash kit"
      1. Equipment
      2. Supplies
      3. Drugs
   5. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation procedures (recover initiative)
8. Anesthesia and the nervous system
   1. Anatomy review
   2. Physiology review
   3. Effects of anesthesia on the nervous system
9. Anesthesia and the cardiovascular system
   1. Anatomy review
   2. Physiology review
   3. Effects of anesthesia on the cardiovascular system
10. Anesthesia and the respiratory system
    1. Anatomy review
    2. Physiology review
    3. Effects of anesthesia on the respiratory system
11. Manual and mechanical ventilation
    1. Indications
    2. Manual methods of ventilation
    3. Mechanical ventilation
       1. Ventilator types
12. Common procedures in veterinary anesthesia
    1. Ovariohysterectomy—dog, cat
    2. Cesarean section—all common species
    3. Orthopedic procedures
    4. Orchiectomy—all common species
    5. Tail docking
    6. Onychectomy—dog, cat
    7. Laparotomies—all common species
    8. Dystocias in common species
    9. Dehorning—cattle, goats
    10. Prolapsed organs—common types, species, and incidence
13. Equine, ruminant, and swine anesthesia
    1. Behavioral, anatomic, and physiologic considerations
    2. Assessment of anesthetic depth
    3. Monitoring
    4. Standing chemical restraint
    5. General anesthesia
    6. Common protocols
       1. Equine
       2. Bovine
       3. Ovine
       4. Caprine
       5. Porcine
    7. Common procedures
       1. Equine
       2. Bovine
       3. Ovine
       4. Caprine
       5. Porcine
14. Local anesthesia
    1. Indications in small animal and large animals
    2. Types and techniques
    3. Local anesthetic agents
15. Anesthesia of rabbits and rodents
    1. Rabbits
       1. Common protocols
       2. Monitoring and management
    2. Rodents
       1. Common protocols
       2. Monitoring and management

Not applicable.

Written examinations
Guided reading assignments
Case studies
Written report (clinical case or research) requiring library and internet research

Lecture
Discussion
Demonstrations
Cooperative learning exercises
Oral presentations
Independent study

Thomas, J.A., and P. Lerch. Anesthesia and Analgesia for Veterinary Technicians. 2017.

This is a seminal text in the field. It has not yet been updated, but it does include best practices and is considered current.

The following websites have required reading:

2020 AAHA Anesthesia and Monitoring Guidelines for Dogs and Cats: https://www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/2020-aaha-anesthesia-and-monitoring-guidelines-for-dogs-and-cats/anesthesia-and-monitoring-home/

2022 Pain Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats: https://www.aaha.org/aaha-guidelines/2022-aaha-pain-management-guidelines-for-dogs-and-cats/home/

1. Weekly reading assignments from text and other sources ranging from 30-60 pages per week
2. Written short answer essay questions
3. Written case studies