Anaesthesia for caesarean section in the bitch

Caesarean section in the bitch is a commonly seen emergency procedure often performed at night when there are limited staff members on hand. Anaesthesia of the pregnant bitch requires careful consideration of a number of factors that may often be overlooked due to the urgent nature of the surgery. Furthermore, the nursing role comprises not only monitoring and maintenance of the anaesthetic, but also expeditious preparation of the bitch, resuscitation of the neonates and provision of consumables and surgical equipment to the veterinary surgeon, all simultaneously. An underlying knowledge of the physiological effects of anaesthetic drugs and appropriate anaesthetic technique are essential to maximize the survival rates of the bitch and neonates and promote a successful outcome for caesarean surgery.

Complicating factors in anaesthesia of the peri-parturient bitch include altered physiology of the bitch during pregnancy, immature physiology of the foetuses, and elective versus emergency presentation. Further developments such as dehydration, hypovolaemia, hypotension, exhaustion, hypothermia, toxaemia, hypoxia, haemorrhage and shock, may also be present if dystocia (slow or difficult labour/delivery) has been in progress for some time (Ryan and Wagner, 2006a). All of these will result in changes in the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of injectable and inhalant anaesthetic drugs.