AIRWAY MANAGEMENT METHODS AND VETERINARY PROFESSIONALS ' PREFERENCES
Participants were asked if they agreed or disagreed with the most common airway management method used in their practice . A total of 14.9 % ( n = 132 ) disagreed . When asked for their preferred method , 61.3 % ( n = 81 ) said they would prefer to use ETTs in all feline patients . Additional responses are shown in Table 3 .
Participants were asked if they felt able to express disagreement with the most common method used in their practice . As many as 31 % ( n = 41 ) said they were not comfortable doing so . Table 4 details their reasons .
Table 3 . Preferred methods , when respondents disagreed with the most common method in their practice .
Preferred method Endotracheal tube for all 81
No endotracheal tubes for castrations 16
v-gel for all 14
Improved management of castrations 8
Endotracheal tube for spays 5
Masks for castrations 3
Endotracheal tube or v-gel for all 2
v-gel for castrations 2
v-gel for spays 1
Number of respondents
Table 4 . Reason for not being able to express views .
Reason Practice unwilling to change 16
VSs disregard VN opinion 8
New to the team 6
Disregarded by management 5
Locum 3
Newly qualified 2
New protocols used 1
Number of respondents
AIRWAY MANAGEMENT METHODS AND THE TYPE OF NEUTERING PROCEDURE
Participants were asked if their airway management method altered according to the neutering procedure . ETTs were used in 94.2 % ( n = 834 ) of cat spays . Of these respondents , 38.2 % ( n = 319 ) also used an ETT for cat castrations , 40.2 % ( n = 335 ) used a mask and 21 % ( n = 175 ) used no airway management .
Cross-tabulations were produced to assess the relationship between airway management methods and the type of procedure ( Table 5 ).
Chi-square statistical analysis was performed and found a significant association between the method used and the type of procedure ( p < 0.01 ).
Table 5 . Cross-tabulation of airway management methods used in castrations versus spays . Note : ‘ Other ’ includes the use of v-gel .
Methods used in spays
ETT |
Mask |
No airway |
|
|
management |
Other
Total
ETT 319 0 1 0 320
Methods used in castrations
Mask 335 19 1 3 358
No airway management
175 2 14 4 195
Other 5 1 0 6 12
Total 834 22 16 13 885
Volume 38 ( 1 ) • February 2023
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