Anesthesia Service
Information about the Anesthesia Service at the KSU VHC
At the Kansas State University Veterinary Health Center
we strive to provide safe and humane care to all animals that are
admitted to the hospital for diagnosis or treatment. Many surgical
or diagnostic procedures require the administration of anesthesia.
The goal of anesthesia is to allow our veterinarians to perform
those needed procedures while alleviating pain, minimizing stress
and preventing suffering for the animal using a combination of
anesthetic drugs and monitoring techniques uniquely selected for
each patient to maximize safety during every procedure. The
Anesthesia Service is committed to providing effective pain control
for each patient before, during and after surgery. The Anesthesia
Service is also integral to providing intensive care for animals
with critical illness. All of these activities occur in the
environment of a Veterinary Health Center where veterinary students in
their final year of veterinary training experience the details of
anesthetic administration, patient monitoring and pain management
under the supervision of Anesthesia faculty and staff in order to
achieve competency for veterinary practice.
What is a
veterinary anesthesiologist?
Although all licensed veterinarians are qualified to administer
anesthesia to their clinical patients, the KSU VHC is fortunate to
have three veterinary anesthesiologists on faculty. Veterinary
anesthesiologists are licensed veterinarians with an additional
three years of specific anesthesia, pain management and critical
care training that is undertaken after achieving their veterinary
degree. Upon completion of anesthesia residency training these
veterinarians are deemed specialists in veterinary anesthesia by the
American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists (ACVA) after
successful completion of a comprehensive certification examination.
Successful candidates are granted Diplomate status in the ACVA.
Anesthesia Staff
In addition to the faculty anesthesiologists, the Anesthesia
Service employs veterinary technicians. All of our
technicians are Registered Veterinary Technicians. They work under
the supervision of the anesthesiologists to assist in anesthesia for
clinical patients as well as instruction of fourth year veterinary
students in anesthetic techniques and monitoring. Our anesthesia
technicians are highly skilled and have extensive clinical
experience in the administration of anesthetic drugs and managing
the anesthetized patient.
Frequently Asked Questions
Many clients have questions and concerns regarding anesthesia in their animal.
Follow this link to review some frequently asked questions about veterinary
anesthesia and what one might expect if their animal is to undergo anesthesia at
the KSU VHC. Frequently Asked Questions
page
Veterinary Anesthesia Links
ACVA
The American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists defines the standards of
anesthesia excellence for the veterinary profession, promotes advancement in
veterinary anesthesia care and provides the latest in anesthesia educational
programs. Only veterinarians who have successfully completed the certification
requirements of the ACVA are Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary
Anesthesiologists and have earned the right to be called specialists in
veterinary anesthesiology. You can find out more about the ACVA by visiting
their website: http://www.acva.org
Position Paper on the Treatment of Animal Pain
www.acva.org/professional/Position/pain.html
Recommendations for monitoring the anesthetized veterinary patient
www.acva.org/professional/Position/monitor.html