Supraglottic airway devices in cats undergoing routine ovariohysterectomy
Abstract
Supraglottic airway devices have been used in human anaesthesia for a number of years and are now being designed for use in companion animals. The v-gel is a supraglottic airway device that has been specifically designed for companion animals. This article discusses the use of the v-gel in three feline patients undergoing routine ovariohysterectomy. The device provided a patent airway for the procedure without the disadvantages of endotracheal intubation and was easily re-positioned by the qualified veterinary nurse monitoring the anaesthesia during one of the procedures.
This article reports on the use of a novel supra-glottic airway device that has been designed for use in veterinary anaesthesia (v-gel, Docsinnovent Ltd). This device offers an alternative to endotracheal intubation. The development of the device has consisted of cadaveric studies to define the optimal shape and sizes of the device (Crotaz, 2010), and the sealing feature has been made from ultra-soft rubber materials to ft anatomical structures, to avoid causing trauma to the airway tissues and blood vessels during insertion and when in situ.
The use of endotracheal tubes is associated with coughing on recovery, tracheal irritation, endobron-chial intubation and in extreme cases necrosis due to over inflation of the cuff (Watney, 2003). Cats are also prone to laryngeal spasm (Evans, 2005). In addition in more serious circumstances, trauma can be caused to the trachea if a cuffed endotracheal tube is over in-fated (Hardie et al, 1999).
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