Perioperative Care for the Caesarean Patient

Jessica Herley CertVNECC VTS ECC | ECCC2025

34 minute video - Certificated at 1 hour of CPD

Periopative care requirements for patients undergoing a caesarean section are complex and differ from our usual day to day anaesthesia regimes. Did you know that hormonal changes increase a dam’s sensitivity to anaesthetic agent and that all anaesthetic agents will cross the blood-placenta barrier? The provision of analgesic agents also needs to undertake careful consideration as analgesic agents that have minimal impact on the foetus need to be selected. Fetal survival is heavily dependent upon the peri-operative care considerations that have been carefully considered and implemented. Anaesthesia of a pregnant dog or cat requires a clear understanding of the specific physiological changes occurring within the body to ensure survival of the mother and neonates.