title: Anesthesia and pain control.
abstract: Successful anesthetic management of the critically ill patient requires familiarity with the pharmacologic properties of a variety of anesthetic drugs. An understanding of the altered physiology present in the critically ill allows an anesthetic regimen to be selected that prevents an anesthetic-induced decompensation. Pain should never go untreated because of a fear of causing excessive physiologic depression. There are numerous options available to control pain. A technique suitable in one instance may be unsuitable in another; for example, an animal that has a significant degree of respiratory compromise may not tolerate the additional respiratory insult associated with narcotic use. A local anesthetic technique may be preferred in this situation. Often a local technique is all that is necessary to control postoperative pain. Furthermore, if pain is controlled for the first 4 to 6 h post-insult, often no further analgesic drugs need to be administered.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Ohio State University, Columbus.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Bednarski
mesh_terms: D000006:Abdomen, Acute / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000772:Anesthesia, Local / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001569:Benzodiazepines; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs; D009294:Narcotics; D009458:Neuroleptanalgesia; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D010276:Parasympatholytics
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D009294:Narcotics; D010276:Parasympatholytics; D001569:Benzodiazepines