Breathing battle - challenges anaesthetising the patient with lower airway disease
21 Nov 2025
RVC Nursing Theatre
Anaesthesia
Anaesthetising patients with lower airway disease can be a real challenge. This session will equip veterinary nurses with essential knowledge to manage these cases safely—from pre-op stabilisation to post-op recovery. Key focus areas include respiratory physiology, ventilation strategies, capnography interpretation, and the use of spirometry to assess respiratory function. Through practical tips and real-life case examples, attendees will gain confidence in recognising complications, such as hypoxaemia and bronchoconstriction, and provide safe anaesthesia to high-risk respiratory patients.
- Understand the pathophysiology of common lower airway diseases
- Recognise the anaesthetic risks for the respiratory compromised patient and plan for complications
- Apply effective and safe ventilation strategies and monitoring techniques
- Interpret capnography and spirometry readings and use it to optimise ventilation
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