Plus-Hex CLINICAL
Recommendations for further studies
Questions regarding the incidence of hypotension in cats during anaesthesia and indications for perioperative IVFT remain unanswered, as little literature was found on these topics, while the value of monitoring BP to maintain normotension is evident.
Ensuring data sets are complete and missing data are accounted for, similar to the study by MacFarlane et al. [ 23 ], could be beneficial in promoting the importance of maintaining normotension in anaesthetised patients.
Further studies would benefit from identifying the best location for cuff placement and investigating whether there is any statistically significant difference between measurements made at different locations.
An ideal basis for a study would be to highlight the importance of monitoring BP during anaesthesia in feline patients by investigating cases of hypotension, with an appropriate sample size calculation, ethical considerations, and statistical analysis to validate statistical significance. The study should control variables such as cuff placement, location and personnel performing the measurements to minimise room for error.
Further studies researching the efficacy of perioperative IVFT in maintaining normotension in small animals by monitoring IBPM in an appropriately calculated sample size, split into two groups( with and without IVFT) and comparing results, would also be beneficial.
Recommendations for veterinary practice
Incidences of hypotension in dogs during anaesthesia were found to be somewhat common in various studies [ 19 – 21 ]. Furthermore, the consequences, including implications for renal function [ 16 ] and the potential for post-anaesthetic AKI [ 17 ], highlight the importance of monitoring BP in anaesthetised dogs.
Studies such as those of MacFarlane et al. [ 23 ] and Rysnick et al. [ 24 ] presented statistical evidence supporting the use of IBPM, compared with NIBPM, during anaesthesia, which is further supported by current literature cited
[ 23, 24 ]
within the text of this article, although the studies found IBPM to be only marginally more accurate.
Therefore, veterinary personnel would benefit from employing routine BP monitoring during general anaesthesia. Ideally, they would use IBPM techniques to ensure measurements are as accurate as possible and to minimise the risk of misinterpretation and incorrect measurements. However, where there are limitations to the use of IBPM, NIBPM is still a vital monitoring parameter in anaesthetised patients and should be used routinely.
Valverde et al. [ 21 ] made use of IVFT to correct hypotension in their study, as fluid therapy can expand and support the intravascular volume [ 9 ]. Therefore, early intervention using fluid resuscitation would be beneficial for VNs to use, under VS instruction, in patients likely to develop hypotension during anaesthesia, which can be recognised through continuous monitoring with IBPM.
Other methods could also be considered, such as adjusting anaesthetic protocols to use cardiovascularsparing drugs and analgesics to reduce the use of volatile inhalant agents. Further research would be beneficial to explore the impact of the latter methods on normalising BP in anaesthetised patients.
Assessment of learning
1. Which parameter is most closely linked to adequate perfusion of vital organs in anaesthetised dogs and cats?
a) Systolic arterial pressure( SAP) of at least 60 mmHg b) Mean arterial pressure( MAP) of at least 60 mmHg c) Diastolic arterial pressure( DAP) of at least 40 mmHg d) Heart rate above 80 beats per minute
2. Which combination best describes the main determinants of arterial blood pressure?
a) Heart rate and blood volume b) Stroke volume and respiratory rate c) Systemic vascular resistance and cardiac output d) DAP and oxygen saturation
3. What is a key advantage of invasive blood pressure monitoring over non-invasive methods in anaesthetised patients?
a) It is cheaper and requires less training
b) It provides continuous measurements and waveforms including SAP, MAP and DAP
c) It is more accurate only in hypertensive patients d) It does not require arterial catheter placement
1. b) Mean arterial pressure( MAP) of at least 60 mmHg 2. c) Systemic vascular resistance and cardiac output 3. b) It provides continuous measurements and waveforms including SAP, MAP and DAP
Answers
Volume 41( 2) • April 2026
39