Many of us have seen a flat-faced patient gasping for breath or panicking when restrained… and at some point we all struggle to intubate an unexpectedly teeny tiny airway! Brachycephalic patients are those with short noses and flat faces, and they present some special challenges for nursing, anaesthesia and recovery. From difficult intubations to inadequate ventilation, hypoxic recoveries and owners who insist their special baby can’t possibly be anaesthetised… this lecture will discuss everything that you need to consider when nursing a brachycephalic patient. Their unique anatomy and physiology will be addressed, along with how that anatomy affects our handling, anaesthesia protocols and monitoring techniques. Special considerations such as stress reduction, restraint, alternative IV access, upper airway obstruction, ventilatory support and vagal tone will be discussed; with particular attention paid to anaesthesia monitoring and the recovery period.
The Australian Veterinary Nurse and Technician (AVNAT) Regulatory Council has allocated (1) AVNAT CPD point to this continuing education activity.
Recorded 17 July 2024
Rhonda has been working in the veterinary industry for almost 20 years. She achieved her Cert IV in Veterinary Nursing in 2007; a Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (General Practice) in 2018; and a second Diploma in Veterinary Nursing (Surgery) in 2019. Rhonda has maintained unbroken Accreditation since 2009 and was one of the first nurses in Australia to become an AVNAT Registered Veterinary Nurse. Rhonda spent 12 years in general practice (including a stint in management) but made the move to emergency and speciality practice in late 2015, where she spent nine years as a full-time Surgical and Anaesthesia Nurse. This year Rhonda has taken on a temporary role in Learning and Development to further explore her love of training and education. In her spare time, Rhonda is a VNCA committee member for South Australia, a discussion board moderator for the ViN Veterinary Support Personnel Network, lectures and delivers workshops both locally and nationally, and is also a lead educator for several workshops with VetPrac. She was awarded VNCA Veterinary Nurse of the Year in 2023. Rhonda is passionate about advanced veterinary care and has a special interest in anaesthesia, surgery and critical care. She is a firm believer that there is always something new to learn in this industry, and actively seeks that new knowledge whenever she can.
