Scared Away

I was on a roll. Posting cases that were interesting, complicated, and most importantly.... successful I've not posted in quite some time, due to the fact that I lost some part of my confidence. This came after I lost a seemingly healthy 4 month old chihuahua while under general anesthesia for a routine spay. As a doctor, I knew this was a risk. I discuss this risk with every single owner, but do I ever think it will happen... No. But it did.

Towards the very end of my procedure, the anesthesia assistant noted that the patient was no longer breathing on her own. After a few assisted breaths of oxygen, a heart rate was no longer audible or evident on ECG. CPR was immediately started, but corneal reflex and palpebral reflexes were gone and never returned. She also began to exude copious amounts of blood-tinged fluid from her endotracheal tube. Even after numerous doses of Lasix, she continued to show signs of pulmonary edema: decreased ETCO2, decreased O2, and even radiographically.

She eventually passed around midnight that night. It was the worst day I had experienced in a loooong time. Hence my delay in posting for a while. Just didn't have much to discuss.

Necropsy Results: death caused by pulmonary edema. Not very helpful- I knew that... but what caused the edema!?

Anal About Anesthesia

iCat