You think your anesthesia plan needs an opioid (and you're probably right) but which one to choose? From receptors to duration, join Stephen, Darci, and Tasha as they discuss which opioids to consider, why they work the way they do, and when to change plans if needed.

further reading:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21952398/

https://bmcvetres.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12917-020-02364-w

Ever wondered about the difference between oxygenation and ventilation? 🫁💨 Join us as Veterinary Technician Specialist Meagan Crowley breaks it down in a way that’s both practical and engaging! Useful for every anesthesia case you perform, we’ll explore why understanding this distinction is critical for patient care. Hypoxemia, hypoventilation, physical monitoring parameters, and physiology will be discussed. Whether you’re a vet tech, vet, or student, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!

We are all taught in school that if a patient become hypotensive, they should receive a fluid bolus. But, does that make sense for all patients? When do you reach for an anticholinergic? When do you start that dopamine or norepi?

Amanda Shelby RVT, VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia) is here to explain it all to us.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

1. Harro C, Foster JD. The effect of circumferential tape applied to the cuff during blood pressure measurement in cats. Abstract presented at: 40th American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine Forum; June 16, 2023; Philadelphia, PA.

2. Martinez AB, Cochran LA, Ishak AM, Keys DA, Frederick SW. Secondary fastener (tape) placement on a blood pressure cuff causes interindividual Doppler blood pressure measurement variability in healthy large-breed dogs. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2024 Aug 30;1(aop):1-6.

3. Cerejo SA, Teixeira‐Neto FJ, Garofalo NA, Rodrigues JC, Celeita‐Rodríguez N, Lagos‐Carvajal AP. Comparison of two species‐specific oscillometric blood pressure monitors with direct blood pressure measurement in anesthetized cats. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. 2017 Jul;27(4):409-18.

4. Garofalo NA, Neto FJ, Alvaides RK, de Oliveira FA, Pignaton W, Pinheiro RT. Agreement between direct, oscillometric and Doppler ultrasound blood pressures using three different cuff positions in anesthetized dogs. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. 2012 Jul 1;39(4):324-34.

5. CAULKETT NA, CANTWELL SL, HOUSTON DM. A comparison of indirect blood pressure monitoring techniques in the anesthetized cat. Veterinary Surgery. 1998 Jul;27(4):370-7.

6. Acierno MJ, Seaton D, Mitchell MA, Da Cunha A. Agreement between directly measured blood pressure and pressures obtained with three veterinary-specific oscillometric units in cats. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2010 Aug 15;237(4):402-6.

7. Shih A, Robertson S, Vigani A, Da Cunha A, Pablo L, Bandt C. Evaluation of an indirect oscillometric blood pressure monitor in normotensive and hypotensive anesthetized dogs. Journal of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care. 2010 Jun;20(3):313-8.

8. Moll X et al. Validity and reliability of Doppler ultrasonography and direct arterial blood pressure measurements in anaesthetized dogs weighing less than 5 kg. VAA 2018;45:135-144.

9. Vachon C, Belanger MC, Burns PM. Evaluation of oscillometric and Doppler ultrasonic devices for blood pressure measurements in anesthetized and conscious dogs. Research in veterinary science. 2014 Aug 1;97(1):111-7.

10. Acierno MJ et al. ACVIM consensus statement: Guidelines for the identification evaluation, and management of systemic hypertension in dogs and cats. J Vet Intern Med. 2018;32(6):1803-1822.

11. Ateca et al. Evaluation of the relationship between peripheral pulse palpation and Doppler systolic blood pressure in dogs presenting to an emergency service. J Vet ECC 2018;28(3)226-231.

Link to the book Small Animal Anesthesia Techniques 2nd ed.

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781119710868

Join all 3 Veterinary Anesthesia Nerds as we geek out over Alpha 2 drugs! Darci Palmer, Stephen Cital, and Tasha McNerney give you a breakdown of the different alpha 2's you may come across in practice. There are so many alpha two options out there, it can get confusing. From tried and true's like xylazine to newer on the market drugs like ZenAlpha, today we discuss how alpha 2's work and why we love them. Check out the veterinary anesthesia nerds resources page for a write up on the medications mentioned here: https://www.veterinaryanesthesianerds.com/resources

ERAS (enhanced recovery after surgery) are gaining ground in human anesthesia ad surgery, but what do they mean for veterinary medicine? Today I discuss the key ERAS concepts we use when creating a balanced and multi modal protocol.

Visit the anesthesia nerds website and check resources for the PDF that goes along with this episode: https://www.veterinaryanesthesianerds.com

Today we are joined by Gianluca Bini, DACVAA and we are discussing how to safely anesthetize the dog with a murmur that hasn't been completely investigated. How can we make anesthesia as safe as possible for this pet?

Dr. Gianluca Bini graduated from the University of Perugia, Italy. He then moved to the United Kingdom, where he completed two internships, one in anesthesia and one rotating, at Dick White Referrals, one of the largest referral centers in Europe. After completing his residency at North Carolina State University, he worked as an Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Management at The Ohio State University and, more recently at Oklahoma State University. Inspired by his fervent desire to extend his impact and assist as many animals as possible, he founded SafePetAnesthesia, a tele-consulting and training firm.

There's been a LOT of talk about Ketamine recently. Not only as an induction agent but also its larger role as an NMDA receptor antagonist and how this plays into chronic conditions such as pain, anxiety, and depression.

Today we talk with Dr. Matthew Gurney DECVAA on how we can better utilize this drug class and some of the science behind it!

Dr. Matthew Gurney is an internationally respected British anaesthetist. A specialist in anaesthesia and analgesia, Matt trained at the University of Liverpool and now works at Eastcott Referrals in the UK. Matt is passionate about pain management, lectures on the subject globally and is the author of many international anaesthesia publications. Matt is Past President of the European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia & Analgesia. In 2020 Matt was awarded the Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons for Meritorious Contribution to Clinical Practice. 2022 saw Matt awarded the RCVS Knowledge Award for Quality Improvement for launching and implementing a unique anaesthesia safety tool.

You can find his site here: https://www.zeropainphilosophy.com/pain-updates

So, have you ever wondered what it would be like to make the switch from veterinary nursing to the human side? Well, today we are talking with Morgan McCann who has done just that!

Morgan McCann has been a credentialed veterinary technician since 2010 and became a VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia) in 2018. In 2020 she began the process of transitioning to human healthcare with the goal of becoming a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist. In 2024 she graduated with a Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing. She currently works fulltime in an Intensive Care Unit and Progressive Care Unit while continuing to work relief in veterinary medicine. Outside of work she enjoys stand up paddleboarding all over the Pacific Northwest and is a volunteer search and rescue canine handler. She shares her home with her son John, a 1.5 year old Maine Coon (yes a real MC) named Katsu, and two former street cats named Kylo and Kiska.

Today we are joined by Dr. Omar Zaheer, DACZM discussing all things Piggies and why your dosing calculations may be a lil off!

Dr. Omar Zaheer graduated from the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in 2016. Following graduation, he completed a small animal rotating internship at the Veterinary Emergency Clinic in Toronto before returning to the OVC for a specialty avian & exotic internship. Following completion of this internship, he completed a residency at the OVC in avian & exotic medicine & surgery from 2018-2021. He published several articles during his residency, including a new surgical technique for cloacal prolapse in pet parrots, an anesthetic study on quaker parrots, and several case reports on pet exotics including chickens, rabbits, and guinea pigs. He became licensed with the American College of Zoological Medicine as a Zoological Companion Animal Specialist in 2023.

Does team culture play a role in patient safety? The research may surprise you! Dr. Cyndie Courtney is back for round 2 helping us dive into the research on how teams work together and what that means for patient safety.

Dr. Cyndie Courtney is a small animal veterinarian and recovering toxic team member. She speaks, writes, and consults internationally using peer-reviewed research and real-life experiences to improve individual/organizational performance/wellbeing by addressing workplace conflict.

She was awarded the World Small Animal Veterinary Medical Association’s Next Generation Award in 2019 and her veterinary alma mater’s Outstanding Recent Alumni Award in 2021 for her service to the profession.