Anesthesia Station

ALL STAFF MUST CHECK IN AT THE VOLUNTEER TABLE.

GLOVES MUST BE WORN AT ALL TIMES.

ANYONE WITHOUT A CURRENT RABIES VACCINATION MUST ADVISE

 THE CLINIC VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR.

The Anesthesia Station determines when the clinic begins. This station must set up immediately so cats can be anesthetized by the designated starting time.  Begin according to the Clinic Supervisor, but no later than 8:05 am. 

Anesthetist Instructions

The Anesthetist assesses the health of each cat and anesthetizes cats.

1)     CLINIC SUPERVISOR or a designated representative prepares the anesthesia mixture by adding 1.25 ml Xylazine (100 mg/ml) and 5 ml Ketamine (100 mg/ml) to one bottle of dry Telazol. The drug mixture is recorder on the mixture log, including drug serial numbers.

2)     DOSAGE is 0.25 ml per average adult cat.  Prepare multiple doses in advance using 1 ml syringes/22g needle assembly  to draw up 0.25 ml.  Adjust the dose up or down for larger or smaller animals.  Minimum dose is 0.125 ml, maximum dose is 0.3 ml.  For any other doses, consult the Clinic Supervisor.

3)     LABEL the mixed vial as “TKX” and date it.  Contact the Supply Coordinator for additional drugs.

4)     ASSESS the cat before anesthetizing for the following:

Ø  Tipped left ear or ear tag, indicating the cat has already been sterilized.  Notify the Clinic Supervisor.  If found after cat is anesthetized, the cat should be moved to the Vaccine Station for booster vaccines.  If noted before anesthetized, Clinic Supervisor may choose to vaccinate without anesthesia.  Then the cat can go directly to Vaccine-Only area.

Ø Signs of Upper Respiratory Infection. These include conjuctivitis, sneezing, watery eyes, or congestion around the nose. These cats should be anesthetised at the end of the clinic once all healthy cats have gone through the clinic. They should be kept separate from health cats.

Ø  Special instructions on trap. All Medical Alerts must be recorder onto the Medical Record Form under “Surgeon Check”.

Ø  General health and appearance.  Contact the Clinic Supervisor with any concerns.  Do not anesthetize extremely debilitated cats or kittens younger than 3 months without first contacting the Clinic Supervisor.

5)     INJECT the cat in the paralumbar muscle through the holes of the cage as soon as the Comber confines the cat with the divider/comb.  Advise the Anesthesia record keeper of the cage number, dose, and injection time.

6)     DISPOSE of used syringe and needle in sharps container.  Do not cap or reuse.

7)     IF NEEDLE comes off syringe, and stays in cat, use the hemostat to retrieve needle.  Do not reach into trap while cat is awake.

8)     **MONITOR the cat for complications. If after 15 minutes the cat is not anesthetized, contact the Clinic Supervisor. An additional 0.125 ml may be given with Supervisor approval. Anesthesia Station typically deals with the most complications to the anesthesia, particularly respiratory arrest and vomiting. If at ANY time you think a cat is not breathing, YELL “NOT BREATHING” and immediately rush the cat the supervising vet. If an ANESTHETIZED cat begins to vomit, YELL “VOMITING” and hold the cat with his head towards the floor. Use a wooden tongue depressor to clear the back of the throat. DO NOT USE YOUR FINGER. If a partially anesthetized cat begins to vomit, DO NOT remove the cat from the trap. The cat is still partially awake and can control its vomit reflex. Simply tilt the cage so that the cat’s head is towards the floor. You may try to insert a tongue depressor through the bars to help clear the mouth of debris.

Record Keeper Instructions

The Anesthesia Station Recorders maintain the Anesthesia Log, record dosage information and medical alerts on the Medical Record Form, and repack and return the station supply kit.

Anesthesia Log Recorder:

1)     RECORD the dose and time of each injection on the Anesthesia Log. (Use a leading zero in all dosages; 0.02, not .02)

2)     RECORD all drug use and waste on the Anesthesia Log. Telazol and Ketamine are DEA controlled drugs and by law must be tracked from receiving to disposal. All drug usage must be logged, dated and initialed by authorized staff. The DEA may inspect these records at anytime, and the University IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee) inspects these records at least twice a year. Each entry on the Anesthesia Log must be initialed by the Anesthesia Record Keeper, and the completed forms signed by Dr Levy or the Clinic Supervisor.

3)     SUBMIT the completed and signed Anesthesia Log to the Supply Coordinator at the conclusion of the clinic. The Supervisor will review it for compliance.

Medical Record Recorder:

1)     Transfer Medical Alerts from MA collars/trap tags to the Medical Record Form under “Surgeon Check”.

2)     NOTE if a cat vomits or has any other reaction to anesthesia.

3)     RECORD the dose and time of each injection in the appropriate boxes. Initial each record. (Use a leading zero in all dosages; 0.02, not .02)

4)     REPACK the supply kit, verifying the items on the Anesthesia Supply List are included.

5)     RETURN the supply kit, including all the station instructions to the supply room at the conclusion of the clinic. This includes all empty vials – a labeled baggy is provided in the kit for this purpose.

6)     CLEAN-UP sweep/vacuum your area; wash tables; bag all trash and take to the dumpster; mop the area until no cat odor remains.