This course introduces the basic principles of anesthesia of common domestic species.  Includes techniques of induction, maintenance, monitoring and recovery of patients using both injectable and inhalation agents (2 credits).  For further information, a complete course content summary is on file in the Science Division office or is available on the college web site.

This course should be taken only after successful completion of all first semester VET courses.

If you complete this course and do well, you will be able to:

•  Be familiar with the various pre-anesthetic drugs and calculate dosages and administer them.
•  Aseptically insert and maintain an IV catheter
•  Calculate and administer IV fluids and medications
•  Be familiar with agents and techniques for local anesthesia
•  Be familiar with agents and techniques for regional anesthesia
•  Be familiar with injectable and inhalation agents and techniques for general anesthesia.  This includes induction and inhalation as well as being familiar with the equipment.
•  Monitor the anesthetized patient.  This includes record keeping, reflex testing, and use of available equipment (i.e. esophageal stethoscopes, ECG, apnea monitors, etc.)
•  Recognize and take steps to prevent anesthetic emergencies
•  Be familiar with CPCR for the arrested patient
•  Understand anesthetic agonists and their use
•  Use and maintain a respirator
•  Monitor and care for a patient during anesthetic recovery
•  Understand the care and preventative maintenance of the anesthetic equipment
•  Understand waste anesthetic disposal and the potential for human toxicity

Under the guidance of a veterinarian, you will learn to assess the preoperative patient, as well as induce, maintain and recover the patient from anesthesia.  Recognizing abnormal responses to pre-anesthetics and anesthetics will be emphasized.  Anesthetic emergencies, their treatment and prevention will also be stressed. Record keeping, anesthetic machine maintenance and management of waste anesthetic gas will also be emphasized.

Other materials: LAB EQUIPMENT AND ATTIRE:

You will need the following items for lab sessions...lab coat, nametag, scrubs, black ink pen, watch with a secondhand, penlight, stethoscope, bandage scissors, hemostats, pocket notebook to record drug dosages, calculator and a thermometer.  Please dress in scrubs and a labcoat prior to your lab session. Long hair needs to be tied back.  You will also need to wear a pair of new or washed tennis shoes for use in our surgical facility exclusively.  Students who are not properly attired and equipped will be dismissed from class and be marked absent for that lab. 

Note:  Some of the items in this list may come bundled in a package.  You may purchase the bundle or the items separately.

Possible Assignments Include: (Subject to change each semester. The actual assignments are available in the Syllabus in the Blackboard course site on the first day of classes.)

Your final grade may be based on the following scale. Please note that you must also pass at least several exams in order to pass the course, regardless of your scores on the other assignments.

There are 2 exams in this course.

Last Updated: August 17, 2010