General Anaesthesia

Complications of general anaesthesia are rare but with the right preparation, these risks can be even lower.

Overview

General anaesthesia is the use of injectable and or gaseous agents to induce an unconscious state for short periods so that procedures such as spay/neuter or dental can be performed pain-free.
The general anaesthetic procedure requires before, during, and aftercare and is tailored specifically to the life stage, health, and breed of the pet.

Before the general anaesthesia

For all patients at Karrinyup Small Animal Hospital, a pre-anaesthetic examination is always performed to check each patient's current health status on the day of a general anaesthetic procedure. Depending on the situation, your Veterinarian may also run pre-anaesthetic blood or urine tests. This will help to determine if there are any underlying pre-existing medical conditions (for example early kidney disease, low red blood cell count etc) which may increase their risks for anaesthetic complications.

During the general anAesthesia

The patient will be monitored closely so that we can immediately intervene to rectify any complications that may arise. The parameters that are monitored include the heart, blood pressure, respiration, carbon dioxide, temperature, and pulse.

If an injectable agent is used, your pet's forearm will be clipped and sterilised so that an intravenous catheter (cannula) can be inserted to administer the anaesthetic agent.

After the general  anAesthesia

Your pet will be closely monitored, and kept warm until they are ready to be discharged. Your pet must be fully awake, responsive, warm, and comfortable before they go home.

Risks associated with general anAesthesia

Whether it is a short or long procedure, there are risks involved with general anaesthesia. However, with a well-trained Veterinary Team, a well-monitored pet, and a fully prepared case, risks can be minimised.

Although rare, reactions can range from:

• Swelling at the injection site
• The decrease in blood pressure
• Hypothermia that cannot be normalised
• Aspiration pneumonia from vomiting/regurtitation under anaesthesia or during recovery
• Shock
• Death

It has been estimated that the risk of death for a healthy pet is 1 in 2000 and for a pet with a pre-existing illness, as low as 1 in 80.

As well as general anaesthesia complications, procedural complications can occur. It is important that you discuss with your Veterinarian any follow-up care and how to recognise early signs of complications prior to taking your pet home.

Elderly patients

Older patients are at higher risks of post-anaesthesia complications such as postoperative cognitive decline. 

To help prevent this:

• Bring in an item of clothing with the owner's scent into the hospital with your pet
• Offer puzzle toys and food contraptions before the procedure to increase mental stimulation
• Go for short walks each day
• After general anaesthesia, sit with your pet in quiet times and massage them and hand feed them food and water

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

It is recommended that you give prior thought to how you wish your Veterinary Team to proceed in the event that CPR is required.

The options are:

1. Code Red - Do not resuscitate
2. Code Yellow - Full resuscitation with closed-chest CPR
3. Code Green - Full resuscitation with open-chest CPR

How to prepare your pet for a general anaesthesia

How to prepare your pet for general anaesthesia:

• Always follow your Veterinarian's instructions
• Restrict food from the night before (unless your pet is 4 months old or under, or is a rabbit) to reduce the risk of regurgitation and aspiration

• Restrict water the morning of the procedure
• Ensure your pet is healthy and of a healthy weight. Notify your Veterinary Team if you have any concerns about your pet's health
• Ensure any medical conditions are well managed and confirm what doses should be given prior to surgery
• Keep your pet up to date with vaccination and parasite preventatives

If you are unsure whether your pet has eaten anything on the day of the procedure, notify your Veterinarian. Ingestion of food can cause serious injury under general anaesthesia. This is due to the suppression of the gag reflex when a pet is unconscious and, therefore, increasing the risk of inhaling food.