This course will illustrate the functions of the anesthesia machine as well as the parts of a complete veterinary anesthesia system from oxygen to waste anesthetic gas disposal and everything in between. Parts of commonly used machines and troubleshooting will be reviewed, and pressure checking will be demonstrated. To round out the course, oxygen flow rates and breathing circuits will be discussed.

This course will review basic respiratory physiology and how anesthesia affects ventilation in dogs and cats. Common terminology pertaining to ventilation will be defined with an emphasis on hypoventilation and atelectasis and how that affects the patients and their anesthetic plane. Each commonly used anesthetic drug will be identified as well as their effects on ventilation. A comparison and contrast of the pulse oximeter and the capnograph will be discussed and a brief introduction to capnography and capnogram waves will be presented. Attendees do not have to have current knowledge or experience with capnography to appreciate this lecture.