Part 2 : an investigation
Lowrie Hamilton , BSc ( Hons ), RVN
Royal Veterinary College
Sarah Batt-Williams , Bsc ( Hons ), RVN , MSc Vet Ed , FHEA
Royal Veterinary College
ABSTRACT The aim of this study is to further understand the airway management methods used for cats undergoing elective neutering procedures , and to explore any barriers to endotracheal intubation . The most common airway management for cat castrations was masks ( 36 %) and for spays it was endotracheal tubes ( 94 %).
Statistical analysis showed significant associations between the airway management method used and the type of procedure ( p < 0.01 ), cat castrations and the type of veterinary professional ( p = 0.01 ), and the type of professional and confidence with intubation ( p < 0.01 ). There was also a statistically significant association between the number of years qualified and confidence with intubation ( p < 0.01 ).
Keywords face masks , endotracheal tubes , supraglottic airway devices , airway management , intubation , feline , neutering
Introduction
Part 1 of this series outlined the reasons for airway management during anaesthesia , and the advantages , disadvantages and considerations of the methods currently available in veterinary practice .
The American Association of Feline Practitioners ( AAFP ) [ 1 ] and the American Animal Hospital Association ( AAHA ) [ 2 ] have benchmarked endotracheal intubation ( ETT ) as the most preferable method .
However , it is not known what is currently used in practice by veterinary nurses ( VNs ) and veterinary surgeons ( VSs ). Similarly , little is known about the rationale behind their choices and whether they feel they have autonomy over these decisions .
Gaining a better understanding of these areas formed the aim of this study , focusing on the intubation of cats during routine neutering for standardisation . The objectives of the study are outlined in Table 1 .
Hypotheses
• There would be a difference in the airway management used for the different neutering procedures .
• There would be an association between the choice of airway management method used and the type of veterinary professional .
• There would be an association between confidence with ETT intubation and number of years qualified .
• There would be an association between the level of confidence with ETT intubation and the type of veterinary professional .
40 Veterinary Nursing Journal