Regional Anaesthesia as a Component of General Anaesthesia

In conventional veterinary anaesthesia much reliance is placed on inhalant volatile anaesthetics, which are often used at relatively high concentrations to prevent responses to painful stimuli during surgery. Volatile anaesthetics such as isoflurane are potentially cardiotoxic, and are also ineffective analgesics. However, relatively low concentrations are required simply to depress consciousness, assuming effective analgesia is provided separately. This approach can potentially improve anaesthetic safety and provide better intra-operative conditions for patient and surgeon. Systemic analgesic drugs can be used, but their effectiveness may be limited when stimulation is extreme and they will cause significant side-effects.

Regional anaesthesia is increasingly recognised as an important component of balanced anaesthesia and can offer complete analgesia over wide areas (depending on the regional block used). Many techniques can be used in addition to familiar spinal blocks. Veterinary surgeons are increasingly adopting regional techniques supplemented by lower dose inhalant anaesthesia, for example during limb, thoracic or dental surgery. Regional anaesthesia techniques can also provide very effective post-operative analgesia and can considerably improve patient welfare after major surgery.

Regional anaesthesia products from Vygon Vet include:
Spinal, lumbar & epidural needles
Anaesthetic procedure packs
Plexus anaesthesia

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