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New Bolton Center Kennett Square, PA
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nbc-anesthesia

Anesthesia


The Anesthesia Service at New Bolton Center is integrated in the Section of Emergency, Critical Care and Anesthesia.

Penn Vet’s academic veterinary hospitals were among the first to establish anesthesia as an independent specialty service, with Dr. Lawrence Soma as co-founder of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists (ACVA) being a pioneer in this field. Taking into consideration the importance of perioperative pain therapy as a critical component of an anesthesiologist’s daily clinical service, the college was renamed to American College of Veterinary Anesthesia & Analgesia in 2012.

Dr. Lin Klein was among the first board-certified diplomates of the ACVA and established during her 25 years of dedicated service the level of anesthesia care large animal patients enjoy today at New Bolton Center. One of our previous nurses (Larry Nann) was instrumental in the development of the certification process for specialized veterinary nurse anesthetists.

Throughout the years, advancements in veterinary anesthesiology have paralleled human medicine with regard to providing the safest possible anesthetic experience for large animals.

At Penn Vet, veterinary anesthesiology has followed human medicine with regard to providing the safest possible anesthetics, assisted ventilation and oxygen delivery, and constant monitoring and support of vital status.

Education in pharmacology, cardiovascular physiology, pain management, and other relevant fields is provided on a continual basis for staff members.

Clinical Responsibilities

Staff members are responsible for administering anesthesia, monitoring vital functions such as heart rate and rhythm (via ECG), blood pressure (through direct and/or indirect devices), respiratory functions (via pulse oximetry blood gas analysis, and end-tidal CO2 recordings), and cardiac output.

They also monitor carefully anesthetic depth and measure concentrations of anesthetic gases administered, and assist the animals during the recovery from anesthesia.

Equipment

For all these tasks, state-of-the art anesthesia equipment and monitors are being used. In addition, New Bolton Center's Hospital is equipped with an unique pool raft recovery system that facilitates recovery of horses from general anesthesia and helps minimizing any self-inflicted injuries during the post-anesthetic wake-up period.

Types of Patients

Our case load is varied, from healthy animals for routine procedures to patients undergoing complex colic or other soft-tissue as well as fracture-repair surgery.

Patients include:

  • Horses
  • Ruminants
  • Pigs
  • Camelids
  • Zoo and wildlife animals

From evaluation and handling of the patient prior to the procedure, to ensuring optimal anesthetic and pain management throughout the procedure and post-operatively, delivering anesthesia safely to such a variety of species provides an exciting challenge. Providing comfort and quality pain management to the patient throughout the process is extremely rewarding.

Faculty/Clinicians
Bernd Driessen, Penn Vet, anesthesia
  • Professor, Anesthesiology (CE)
  • Board Certification: Anesthesiology, Pharmacology & Toxicology
Dr. Klaus Hopster, New Bolton Center
  • Associate Professor, Anesthesiology (CE)
  • Board Certification: Anesthesiology
Dr. Hope Douglas, Penn Vet
Dr. Dario Floriano, Penn Vet
  • Assistant Professor, Anesthesiology
Dr. Monica Midon, New Bolton Center


Anesthesia Residents
 Twila Booke
  • Twila Booke, VMD
  • Resident
 
Dr. Jerriane Brandly
  • Jerianne Brandly, DVM
  • Resident
Dr. Alycia Frampton
  • Alycia Frampton, VMD
  • Resident
Dr. Emma Gorenberg 
  • Emma Gorenberg, VMD, DACVIM (LAIM)
  • Resident
 
Dr. DeAnna Theiss
  • DeAnna Theiss, DVM, MPH
  • Resident

Veterinary Nurse Anesthetists
Samantha Ervin, LVT
Wendy Harris, CVT
Diane Hurley, RVT