Anesthesia Services

Residents:
Maria Killos, DVM; Resident until 6/08
Daniel Almeida, Resident until 6/10

Technicians:
Rachel Bassett, CVT
Rachel Czachor, CVT
Shana Eisenberg, CVT
Gayle Geiser, CVT
Diedre Kranz, CVT
Ryan Nichols, CVT
Sigrid Rea, CVT, VTS(Anes);
Ruth Mandsager, CVT, Supervisor

Contact
Telephone consultations available (allow 24 to 48 hours for response); for true emergencies, call 612-625-8755 and ask to speak with an anesthesiologist on duty

Services
*Anesthesia, sedation and pain management services for large and small animals, including exotic species
* Techniques include the use of injectable drugs, inhalant anesthetics, ventilator management, regional anesthesia/analgesia (peripheral nerve blocks, dental blocks, epidurals/epidural catheterization), constant rate infusions and balanced anesthesia/analgesia
* Clinical Pain Group integrates current knowledge, research and clinical applications. This includes integrative methods of analgesia (acupuncture, chiropractic, herbal therapy)
* Continuing education for DVMs and technicians within the VMC, the referring community and at regional/ national/international meetings
* Speakers for lay groups and breed clubs
* Special interests Acute and chronic pain management, airway disease, emergency/critical care, integrative medicine, computer-assisted teaching development

Hours
Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.
On-call emergency services 6:30 pm to 7:30 am Monday through Friday and 24/7 weekends/holidays.

Special Equipment and Capabilities
* Multiple board certified anesthesiologists with over 50 years of combined experience
* All technicians are nationally certified; 2 are additionally specialty-qualified by the Academy of Veterinary Technician Anesthetists (VTS-Anesthesia)
* Personnel available 24/7/365 for emergency procedures
* Individually tailored anesthetic plan for each patient
* Each patient is continuously monitored throughout the anesthetic period by dedicated personnel; detailed anesthetic records are completed for each patient, becoming a permanent part of the patient¿s medical record
* Variety of pain management techniques including routine premedication, epidurals, epidural catheters, constant rate infusions, transdermal fentanyl and/or lidocaine, local/regional blocks and postoperative analgesic recommendations
* Routine use of all modern inhalants, including sevoflurane and isoflurane
* Regular use of a multitude of injectable anesthetics, analgesics and other supportive medications
* Ability and desire, to work with cases requiring unique care (difficult airways, sepsis, profound volume loss, icterus, diaphragmatic hernias, malignant hyperthermia, etc)
* Routine peripheral venous catheterization in all patients
* Wide variety of intravenous fluid therapy options, including replacement crystalloids, artificial colloids, blood substitutes, concentrated human albumin, species specific plasma, packed red cells and whole blood
* Electrocardiographic (ECG) monitoring for every patient
* Pulse oximetry widely utilized to monitor for hypoxemia
* Blood pressure monitoring (direct and/or indirect) for every patient, as hypotension is the single most frequent complication of general anesthesia
* Arterial catheterization to allow direct blood pressure monitoring, blood gas monitoring and easy sampling
* Central venous catheterization to allow for repeated venous blood sampling, central venous pressure (CVP) monitoring and automated central venous waveform analysis
* Intraoperative and postoperative forced warm air blankets and water circulating heating pads to prevent and/or treat perioperative hypothermia
* Esophageal temperature monitoring
* End tidal gas monitoring, including ETCO2, to allow screening for hypoventilation
* Neuromuscular blockade monitoring equipment, for appropriate cases
* Ascending and descending mechanical ventilators
* Ability to deliver a mixture of inhaled gases, such as nitrous oxide and oxygen, for appropriate patients
* Active, centralized waste gas scavenging, in addition to passive systems used during patient transport
* Point of care packed cell, total protein and glucose monitoring
* Hoist/sling system for large animal recovery
* Padded equine induction and recovery stalls
* Hydraulic lift table for large animal surgical procedures

Useful information
*Small animal cases arriving for same-day service must be checked in at the small animal hospital by 7 a.m.
* Large animal cases arriving for same-day service must be checked in at the large animal hospital by 9 a.m.

*Please send any completed blood work and radiographs with the client. Please speak with an anesthesiologist directly regarding specific anesthetic concerns for any of your referred patients.