Preparation of arrival:

·     Clean bedding in a quiet location is ideal along with a few seats for the owners to sit as they usually like to present when their pet is being monitored.

·         Plenty of clean towels

·         Water based lubricant

·         Skin prep and tape and appropriately sized catheters

·         Oxytocin and needles and syringes

·         Ultrasound: if available, must be set up and ready to go

·         X-Ray: the X-Ray must be set up according to the size of the abdomen of the patient and ready to go

·         Monitoring equipment: in order to monitor the pulse rate, ECG, BP etc.

·         oxytocin, needles and syringes

·         Surgical equipment: 1.anesthetic machines, ET tubes and drugs

                                     2. plenty of towels for neonate resuscitation

                                     3. extra hemostats for umbilicus

                                     4. plenty of warm lavaging saline

·         Humidcrib/oxygen induction chamber or warm location for the neonates, post delivery.

 

Considerations of anesthesia for caesareans:

1.       During parturition, the uterus usually exerts extra pressure on the lungs and diaphragm, hence decreasing the tidal volume, thereby decreasing anesthetic requirements and increasing the respiratory rate.

2.       The patient’s head should never be inclined downwards during delivery as this will greatly increase the pressure on the diaphragm which will result in an increase in abdominal pressure on the diaphragm and this can greatly compromise ventilation.

3.       Pregnant females also have delayed gastric emptying-they tend to regurgitate and possibly aspirate more than normal patients.

4.       The surgeon must be ready soon after the patient is anesthetized, as exposing neonates to depressive drugs can be dangerous and decrease their chances of survival.

5.       Hypotension: clipping the patient prior GA, can reduce the overall time of GA.