Download Reptile Anesthesia

Reptile Anesthesia
 Injectable
and inhalant anesthetics are
commonly employed both for surgery and
sedation for diagnostic or treatment
procedures.
Preparation
Removal of food and water is
recommended for 12-24 hours
prior to surgery
Supplemental heat is also used to
maintain the patient at
approximately 85 degrees F. It
is also important to keep this
temperature consistent
throughout the anesthetic
induction, the surgical
procedure, and the recovery
phase.
Water circulating heating pad
Injectables
 Renal
portal circulation may reduce the
efficacy of anesthetic drugs when injected
in the leg muscles or veins. However, this
is of little clinical significance as one can
increase the anesthetic dose until the
desired effect is achieved
Injectables
 Dissociatives:
ketamine and telazol, very
useful, safe, reliable.
 Ketamine is administered IM or SC at
dose of 22 to 44 mg/kg.
 Telazol is administered IM or SC at dose
of 4 to 5 mg/kg
Propofol:
 short
acting for induction of quick
diagnostics, must go IV or IO
(intraosseous catheter)
 Dose 3 to 10 mg/kg
 It will last about 5 - 20 minutes and can be
redosed as needed.
Inhalant

Use an induction chamber
for nearly all reptiles or face
mask.
 Isoflurane is the best agent
to use here with Halothane
being a close second. This
is very smooth, very
reliable, and has a short
recovery. 5% isoflurane for
induction and 1.5% for
maintenace.

In squamata the tracheal ring is incomplete but
turtles and crocodilians have complete tracheal
rings and it is important not to use ET tube cuff
in these species.
 Except in crocodilians where the pulmonary
morphology is similar to that of the mammals,
most reptilians have more primitive lung
structures and possess air sacs which do not
involve in gas exchanges.

Reptiles have an extensive pulmonary shunting.
They also undergo extensive anaerobic
metabolism which is particularly well developed
in aquatic reptiles such as sea turtles.
 Succinylcholine is a drug used to induce
muscle relaxation and is the recommended drug
use for sea turtles
 Their ability to withhold breath and extensive
pulmonary shunting can significantly delay
inhalation anesthetic induction
Intubating the animals once the anesthesia is induced
will provide a secure airway as well as reducing the
anesthetic leakage.
Note the glottis is positioned at the
base of the tongue and is easily
visualized. There is no epiglottis.

Maintain them on
1.5% isoflurane and
1L/min oxygen.
 Use a nonrebreathing system
for these "bagging"
them to a pressure of
10 cm-water every 30
seconds to assist
their respirations
Judging anesthetic depth

Palpebral
Withdrawal
Righting reflex

Spontaneous respiration


Anesthetic monitoring
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Observation (rib expansion)
ECG: only shows electrical activity. Reptile
hearts can beat after removal from the body!
Esophageal stethoscope
Anesthetic monitoring utilizing combination of an
ECG and a Doppler flow detector (typically
placed in a site near the heart) will provide
useful monitoring of electrical and mechanical
activities of the heart .
Due to their thick skin (scales) pulse oximetry
and noninvasive blood pressure readings are
difficult to obtain.
Recovery
 Ensure
to maintain optimal temperature of
the particular species for faster drug
metabolism (and recovery)
 Provide a secure and clear airway
 Provide adequate analgesia
 Reverse any reversible drugs that may
prolong the recovery