Question

A 6 month old poodle scheduled for an ovariohysterectomy is administered ketamine/ diazepam and maintained on isoflurane anesthesia. Failure to administer intraoperative analgesia results in the animals postoperative pain level to be more severe than the damage from the surgery itself. Which option is likely responsible for this do's presentation?

Answer 1

Severe postoperative pain in the absence of intraoperative analgesia is likely due to the use of general anesthetics like isoflurane and ketamine/diazepam, which do not provide pain relief. Analgesics must be administered during surgery to manage pain and ensure animal welfare.

Step-by-step explanation:

Failure to administer intraoperative analgesia can result in severe postoperative pain, which may be more intense than the damage from the surgery itself. General anesthetics like isoflurane, and the combination of ketamine and diazepam induce unconsciousness and sedation but do not provide analgesic effects. Unlike general anesthetics, analgesics are essential for pain control during and after surgery.

Omitting intraoperative pain management can lead to severe discomfort and potentially result in adverse outcomes for the animal patient. Therefore, the administration of appropriate analgesics during surgery is critical to preventing excessive postoperative pain and promoting recovery.

In the scenario described, the 6-month-old poodle, administered with ketamine/diazepam and maintained on isoflurane anesthesia, was not given intraoperative analgesics, leading to increased pain post-surgery. This highlights the necessity for a comprehensive anesthesia plan that includes both sedation and analgesia to manage pain effectively.