Anesthesia

Anesthesia is necessary for animal patients undergoing surgery and other medical procedures such as endoscopy, imaging (CT and MRI) and radiation therapy. The doctors and staff of the Anesthesia Service know that each patient is unique. Age, breed, health and personality are all factors that must be evaluated in order to do the best anesthesia possible, and so each patient gets an individualized plan that incorporates both the latest research and our many years of experience.

Safety

Monitoring and support are important features of anesthesia too. Foster Hospital uses state-of-the-art equipment to measure heart and lung function, intravenous fluids and maintain normal body temperature using the same equipment that is used for humans during anesthesia. And when a critical patient is in our hands, we assemble a team to provide vital support.

Comfort

Our anesthesiologists at Foster Hospital are nationally recognized for their expertise in preventing and treating pain. We combine the gentlest handling, the most expert monitoring, and superlative pain and anxiety control to deliver the best anesthesia care possible for your pet.

Advanced Techniques in Anesthesia

• Femoral/sciatic nerve blocks
• Brachial plexus block
• Dental nerve blocks

Local and Regional Anesthesia/Analgesia

• Epidural injections and catheters
• Intercostal blocks
• Wound soaker catheters
• Sedation for minor procedures in high-risk patients
• Total intravenous anesthesia of selected cases
• One lung ventilation
• Management of difficult airways – pharyngostomy tubes, laryngeal mask airways, fiberoptic assisted intubation
• Mechanical ventilation, muscle relaxants
• Blood component therapy
• Metabolic indices in critical patients, e.g. colloid oncotic pressure, TEG

Advanced monitoring

• End tidal agent
• Arterial blood pressure
• Arterial blood gases
• Capnography