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Specialty

Anaesthesiology and pain management

Pre-anaesthetic assessment, intra-operative monitoring and multimodal pain management — standards STD-01 to STD-04 in practice.

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5 examinations and procedures5 items of equipment
Scope of this specialty

Examinations, procedures and services

We manage every case individually — the scope, indications and course described above are indicative; the exact diagnostic and treatment plan is agreed during the consultation.

Anaesthesia · examination

Pre-anaesthetic assessment for general anaesthesia

An examination, blood results and a risk assessment on the ASA scale before every anaesthetic — in line with our standard STD-01. This lets us plan the anaesthetic for the individual patient.

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Anaesthesia · procedure

General anaesthesia with monitoring

Inhalation or combined anaesthesia carried out according to standard STD-02: intubation, continuous monitoring of vital signs, warming, and a dedicated person watching the patient throughout the procedure.

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Anaesthesia · procedure

Local and regional anaesthesia

Nerve blocks, infiltration and epidural anaesthesia as a supplement to general anaesthesia or as stand-alone anaesthesia for minor procedures. Pain management standard STD-04.

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Anaesthesia · treatment

Treatment of acute and chronic pain

Pain assessment using clinical scales and a treatment plan that combines several methods — after operations, in osteoarthritis, and for cancer pain and neuropathic pain. Standard STD-04.

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Anaesthesia · procedure

Sedation for diagnostic examinations

Light, controlled sedation for X-rays, ultrasound, dressings and sample collection — with monitoring, reversible drugs and a quick recovery.

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Conditions and symptoms within our scope

What patients come to us with

Feline hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM)a heart disease that often has no symptoms, is detected by echocardiography and changes the choice of anaesthetic drugs.
Chronic kidney diseaseweakened kidneys tolerate drops in blood pressure under anaesthesia less well; they require fluid therapy and a different choice of drugs.
Liver diseasethe liver metabolises most anaesthetics, so liver failure prolongs recovery.
Brachycephalic syndromenarrow nostrils and a long soft palate make breathing difficult after extubation.
Diabetesrequires special planning of fasting and insulin doses on the day of the procedure.
Clotting disordersfor example von Willebrand disease in Dobermanns, dangerous with any incision.
Pyometrapurulent inflammation of the uterus in bitches and queens that requires urgent surgery under anaesthesia.
Gastric dilatation-volvulus in large-breed dogsan emergency in which anaesthesia is given to a patient in shock.
Foreign body in the digestive tractremoved endoscopically or surgically.
Periodontal diseasein its advanced form, it requires tooth extractions to be carried out under general anaesthesia only.
Fractures and cruciate ligament rupturelengthy orthopaedic procedures with regional nerve blocks.
Skin and mammary gland tumoursremoved with a margin under anaesthesia.
Equipment and procedures we rely on

Facilities for this specialty

Each item has its own page: what it is, what it is used for and what it offers the animal.

On-site laboratoryLaboratory

On-site laboratory

Haematology and biochemistry analysers, urinalysis, a microscope for cytology — critical values are available within minutes.

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Ultrasound scannerImaging

Ultrasound scanner

An ultrasound machine with probes for examining the abdomen, chest, heart (echocardiography) and superficial tissues.

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Anaesthesia station and monitoringAnaesthesiology

Anaesthesia station and monitoring

An inhalation anaesthesia machine with a ventilator and a vital signs monitor: ECG, saturation, capnography, blood pressure, temperature.

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Central medical gas installationMedical infrastructure

Central medical gas installation

A permanent piped installation distributing medical oxygen from a central source to outlets in both operating theatres.

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Patient warming systemAnaesthesiology

Patient warming system

Active warming of the patient during the procedure and recovery — preventing hypothermia, the most common complication of anaesthesia.

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Lead technician in anaesthesia

Who manages anaesthesia

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Lead technician in anaesthesia · in-patient hospital

Maja Wójcik, veterinary technician

Maja is the practice’s main specialist in anaesthesia. She anaesthetises low-risk and higher-risk patients, patients with comorbidities, and neonatal and geriatric patients. She looks after pre- and postoperative care and pain management, cares for hospitalised patients and is close to patients in emergencies who need knowledge of emergency medicine. She looks after the anaesthesia protocols and organises the work of the hospital. Thanks to her protocols and attention to anaesthetic monitoring, anaesthesia at the practice is carried out to rigorous safety standards.

Anaesthesia is handled by all of the practice’s veterinary technicians.

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Frequently asked questions

Owners’ questions

Is a blood test before anaesthesia really necessary for a young, healthy dog?

Yes, at our practice it is part of standard STD-01. Abnormalities are rare in young animals, but when they do occur (for example a congenital portosystemic shunt or anaemia), they change everything. The cost of the test is small compared with the risk.

Is anaesthesia dangerous?

Every anaesthetic carries some risk, but with pre-anaesthetic assessment, intubation, continuous monitoring and warming, the risk in healthy animals is very low. The greatest risk affects patients with undiagnosed diseases, which is why we examine them before the procedure.

Does a nerve block replace anaesthesia?

In animals it usually does not. At the very least sedation is needed so that the patient lies still. A nerve block means that the anaesthesia can be lighter and there is less pain after the procedure.

How can I tell that my cat is in pain?

Cats rarely vocalise. The signs are changes in habits: less jumping, less grooming, hiding, squinting eyes, flattened ears. The Feline Grimace Scale is a simple test that we will show you during the visit.

How does sedation differ from general anaesthesia?

Under sedation the animal sleeps lightly, breathes on its own and can be woken quickly with an antidote. Under general anaesthesia it is intubated, maintained on gas anaesthetic and has no reflexes. Sedation is enough for examinations and minor procedures; general anaesthesia is necessary for operations.

Start with a conversation.

Reception will assess your enquiry and book an appointment with the right veterinarian.

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This page is a translation of the Polish original. In case of doubt, the Polish version prevails. Polski