Anesthesiology
Veterinary Anesthesia Toronto
Alicia Skelding, DVM, MSc, DACVA
Head of Service
Anesthesia
Rodrigo Aguilera, DVM, Residency trained ACVA
Veterinary Specialist
Anesthesia
Alex Focken, DVM
Veterinary Intern
Anesthesia
Anesthesiology services
- General inhalant anesthesia using a balanced anesthetic technique
- General anesthesia for minimally invasive surgery (thoracoscopy, laparoscopy)
- Total intravenous anesthesia
- Procedural sedation
- Intensive anesthetic monitoring using multiparameter monitors with the capability of evaluating electrocardiogram, non-invasive and direct arterial blood pressure, pulse oximetry, capnography, end tidal anesthetic gas analysis and body temperature
- Locoregional anesthesia via peripheral nerve stimulation
- Epidural anesthesia
- One lung ventilation
Common reasons for referral
- Anesthesia of patients with concurrent cardiovascular, respiratory or endocrine disease
- Anesthesia of brachycephalic patients
- Anesthesia for elective or emergency caesarean
- Anesthesia of high risk and emergency patients
- Anesthetic management of patients with difficult airways or requiring airway surgery
- Anesthesia for minimally invasive surgical techniques and advanced imaging
- Advanced anesthetic monitoring including direct arterial blood pressure and arterial blood gases
Strengths of Services
- The Anesthesiology Service consists of specially trained technicians and a board-certified Anesthesiologist whose sole responsibility is to oversee the anesthesia of the patient
- Our board-certified Anesthesiologist underwent an extensive 3-year residency training program, following completion of their veterinary degree
- An individualized anesthetic plan is created that is unique to each patient requiring general anesthesia or procedural sedation by the Anesthesia Service
- We have advanced monitoring tools to increase patient safety during anesthesia and sedation
- Specialized equipment includes: multiparamter monitors, anesthetic ventilators, peripheral nerve stimulator and in-house radiometer for blood gas analysis
- The Anesthesiology Service collaborates across services to ensure patient care is optimal during anesthesia