AAHA Releases New Anesthesia Guidelines for Dogs and Cats
Guidelines complement existing protocols from AAHA and American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists
The American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) released new guidelines for veterinarians when anesthetizing canines and felines in the November/December 2011 issue of the Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. These guidelines cover all elements that should be taken into consideration when developing anesthetic plans, from patient evaluation to staffing recommendations, equipment check lists and maintenance, pain management and monitoring parameters. The goal is for veterinarians to create comprehensive, individualized plans for patients, as anesthesia is so much more involved than just selecting a drug.
According to DVM Newsmagazine, “anesthesia-related complications are responsible for a significant number of liability insurance claims, with most anesthetic-associated deaths occurring during the first three hours of recovery. In fact, 47% of canine anesthesia deaths and 60% of feline anesthesia deaths occur during the postoperative period.”
Animals must be sedated by anesthesia before undergoing MRI and CT examinations.
To read the new guidelines in detail, please click here.
Very nice article!