Reptile Anesthesia Reptile Anesthesia

Injectable and inhalant anesthetics are Injectable and inhalant anesthetics are commonly employed both for surgery and commonly employed both for surgery and sedation for diagnostic or treatment sedation for diagnostic or treatment procedures. procedures.

Preparation Preparation Removal of food and water is Removal of food and water is

recommended for 12-24 hours recommended for 12-24 hours prior to surgeryprior to surgery

Supplemental heat is also used to Supplemental heat is also used to maintain the patient at maintain the patient at approximately 85 degrees F. It approximately 85 degrees F. It is also important to keep this is also important to keep this temperature consistent temperature consistent throughout the anesthetic throughout the anesthetic induction, the surgical induction, the surgical procedure, and the recovery procedure, and the recovery phase.phase.

Water circulating heating pad

InjectablesInjectables

Renal portal circulation may reduce the Renal portal circulation may reduce the efficacy of anesthetic drugs when injected efficacy of anesthetic drugs when injected in the leg muscles or veins. However, this in the leg muscles or veins. However, this is of little clinical significance as one can is of little clinical significance as one can increase the anesthetic dose until the increase the anesthetic dose until the desired effect is achieved desired effect is achieved

Injectables Injectables

Dissociatives: Dissociatives: ketamineketamine and and telazoltelazol, very , very useful, safe, reliable.useful, safe, reliable.

Ketamine is administered IM or SC at Ketamine is administered IM or SC at dose of 22 to 44 mg/kg.dose of 22 to 44 mg/kg.

Telazol is administered IM or SC at dose Telazol is administered IM or SC at dose of 4 to 5 mg/kgof 4 to 5 mg/kg

PropofolPropofol::

short acting for induction of quick short acting for induction of quick diagnostics, must go IV or IO diagnostics, must go IV or IO (intraosseous catheter) (intraosseous catheter)

Dose 3 to 10 mg/kgDose 3 to 10 mg/kg It will last about 5 - 20 minutes and can be It will last about 5 - 20 minutes and can be

redosed as needed. redosed as needed.

Inhalant Inhalant Use an induction chamber Use an induction chamber

for nearly all reptiles or face for nearly all reptiles or face mask. mask.

IsofluraneIsoflurane is the best agent is the best agent to use here with Halothane to use here with Halothane being a close second. This being a close second. This is very smooth, very is very smooth, very reliable, and has a short reliable, and has a short recovery. 5% isoflurane for recovery. 5% isoflurane for induction and 1.5% for induction and 1.5% for maintenace. maintenace.

In squamata the tracheal ring is incomplete but In squamata the tracheal ring is incomplete but turtles and crocodilians have complete tracheal turtles and crocodilians have complete tracheal rings and it is important not to use ET tube cuff rings and it is important not to use ET tube cuff in these species.in these species.

Except in crocodilians where the pulmonary Except in crocodilians where the pulmonary morphology is similar to that of the mammals, morphology is similar to that of the mammals, most reptilians have more primitive lung most reptilians have more primitive lung structures and possess air sacs which do not structures and possess air sacs which do not involve in gas exchanges.involve in gas exchanges.

Reptiles have an extensive pulmonary shunting. Reptiles have an extensive pulmonary shunting. They also undergo extensive anaerobic They also undergo extensive anaerobic metabolism which is particularly well developed metabolism which is particularly well developed in aquatic reptiles such as sea turtles. in aquatic reptiles such as sea turtles.

Succinylcholine Succinylcholine is a drug used to induce is a drug used to induce muscle relaxation and is the recommended drug muscle relaxation and is the recommended drug use for sea turtles use for sea turtles

Their ability to withhold breath and extensive Their ability to withhold breath and extensive pulmonary shunting can significantly delay pulmonary shunting can significantly delay inhalation anesthetic induction inhalation anesthetic induction

Intubating the animals once the anesthesia is induced Intubating the animals once the anesthesia is induced will provide a secure airway as well as reducing the will provide a secure airway as well as reducing the

anesthetic leakageanesthetic leakage. .

Note the glottis is positioned at the base of the tongue and is easily visualized. There is no epiglottis.

Maintain them on Maintain them on 1.5% isoflurane and 1.5% isoflurane and 1L/min oxygen. 1L/min oxygen.

Use a non-Use a non-rebreathing system rebreathing system for these "bagging" for these "bagging" them to a pressure of them to a pressure of 10 cm-water every 30 10 cm-water every 30 seconds to assist seconds to assist their respirations their respirations

Judging anesthetic depthJudging anesthetic depth

Palpebral Palpebral Withdrawal Withdrawal Righting reflex Righting reflex Spontaneous respirationSpontaneous respiration

Anesthetic monitoringAnesthetic monitoring

Observation (rib expansion)Observation (rib expansion) ECG: only shows electrical activity. ECG: only shows electrical activity. Reptile Reptile

hearts can beat after removal from the body!hearts can beat after removal from the body! Esophageal stethoscope Esophageal stethoscope Anesthetic monitoring utilizing combination of an Anesthetic monitoring utilizing combination of an

ECG and a Doppler flow detector (typically ECG and a Doppler flow detector (typically placed in a site near the heart) will provide placed in a site near the heart) will provide useful monitoring of electrical and mechanical useful monitoring of electrical and mechanical activities of the heart .activities of the heart .

Due to their thick skin (scales) pulse oximetry Due to their thick skin (scales) pulse oximetry and noninvasive blood pressure readings are and noninvasive blood pressure readings are difficult to obtain. difficult to obtain.

RecoveryRecovery

Ensure to maintain optimal temperature of Ensure to maintain optimal temperature of the particular species for faster drug the particular species for faster drug metabolism (and recovery) metabolism (and recovery)

Provide a secure and clear airway Provide a secure and clear airway Provide adequate analgesia Provide adequate analgesia Reverse any reversible drugs that may Reverse any reversible drugs that may

prolong the recovery prolong the recovery