Anesthesia

General Anesthesia

When a patient is rendered unconscious through the injection of drugs and/or by inhaling an anesthetic gas. This also provides muscle relaxation and lack of pain perception, making it possible to perform surgery and other procedures.

Possible complications include:

• Respiratory depression
• Low heart rate and low blood pressure
• Adverse or allergic reactions to the anesthetic drugs
• Equipment malfunction and infection. The possibility of these complications is higher in critically ill patients. At Penn Vet we make every effort to minimize these risks by tailoring the anesthetic protocol uniquely to the patient.

Procedural Sedation

When an animal is sedated for a diagnostic procedure or minor surgery. This technique is often integrated with locoregional anesthesia. Although sedation does carry similar risks as those for general anesthesia, it typically has less impact on the respiratory and cardiovascular system, and allows for faster recovery.

Locoregional Anesthesia

Locoregional anesthesia targets specific areas of the body. Two of the common locoregional techniques are peripheral nerve blocks and epidural/intrathecal injection.

Peripheral Nerve Block:

Local anesthetic is injected around the nerves that supply the target area of surgery, preventing pain sensation.

Possible complications include:

• Failure of the block
• Adverse or allergic reactions to the drugs or drug toxicity
• Hemorrhage
• Infection
• Rare complications of the nervous system which may lead to temporary or permanent paralysis.

Epidural/Intrathecal Injection:

A needle is placed between the vertebrae and medication is injected into the epidural or intrathecal space to provide regional anesthesia and/or pain relief.

Possible complications include:

• Failure of the injection
• Adverse or allergic reactions to the drugs or drug toxicity
• Low blood pressure
• Reactions
• Hemorrhage
• Infection
• Rare complications of the nervous system which may lead to temporary or permanent paralysis, urinary retention, pruritus (itchiness); slow regrowth of hair over the injection site.