Veterinary Anursethesia

Ultrasound-guided venous access is indicated when peripheral access is challenging due to obesity, marked peripheral edema, hematoma formation from previous failed attempts, thrombosis, or severe hypovolaemia. It is highly effective for both peripheral and central veins! They're also wonderful for placing arterial lines too.

Yes, there is a learning curve to make this speedier and more successful than the conventional technique, but the skill of ultrasound-guided techniques does get better over time (Duriez et al., 2026). A nice meta-analysis showed it is a valuable adjunct for difficult vascular access, and while it does not always make cannulation faster, the benefits are most evident when veins are difficult to visualise or palpate (Stolz et al., 2015).

When I was at EVECCs last week, I fell in love with this probe from the .vet team! Especially with the sexy bi-plane view. Enjoy this run-down by Gabi, and sorry about the background noise. I did play around with hitting this vessel and this made it so easy!

Not an ad, just a bloody cool shout out. It's on my Christmas list!

Advanced technology can transform veterinary care but only when it's paired with the knowledge and confidence to use it effectively.

With this patient, I was able to utilise very low fresh gas flows during anaesthesia on a 30kg dog because I could accurately monitor the concentration of oxygen being delivered and ensure that oxygenation and ventilation remained adequate throughout the procedure.

In this video, my patient is receiving just 0.3L/min of oxygen (approximately 10ml/kg/min), which closely reflects the patient's estimated metabolic oxygen consumption rate. The benefit? Minimal waste of both oxygen and volatile anaesthetic agent, making the anaesthetic more efficient and environmentally conscious.

This isn't simply about having advanced monitoring equipment; it's about understanding the physiology behind what you're seeing and having the knowledge to safely apply it in practice.

When I completed my Nurses Certificate in Anaesthesia with in 2017, low-flow anaesthesia was one of the concepts that was taught to me. Nearly a decade later, it's still something I utilise regularly in practice. It genuinely changed the way I manage my anaesthesia patients and highlighted the importance of investing not only in equipment but also in education!

Why CPD in anaesthesia actually matters in real practice!

What better way to kick off Veterinary Nursing Awareness Month than by showcasing some of the amazing things you can do as an RVN? 🐾

Beautiful Ben was in for a tenotomy, and to help keep him as comfortable as possible, I performed a ring block (circumferential block) with lidocaine on his forelimb prior to incision.

This is exactly why CPD matters — it strengthens our ability to advocate for our patients, not just fulfil a professional requirement.

A ring block works by creating a “band” of anaesthesia around the limb, desensitising both superficial and sensory nerves. For a forelimb tendonectomy, this is typically placed distal to the elbow and proximal to the surgical site.

🔹 Technique highlights:
• Small-gauge needle
• Subcutaneous placement (not intramuscular)
• Aspirate before injecting
• Inject small volumes while advancing
• Work circumferentially around the limb
• Divide total volume across multiple points
• Ensure even distribution as gaps mean incomplete analgesia

When I completed my nursing certificate with Improve Veterinary Education UK, we covered analgesia and pain assessment in depth — from performing blocks like this to monitoring effectiveness and post-op pain scoring.

Moments like this are a great reminder of how much impact RVNs have on patient care every single day and how important CPD is!

(Owner permission given to post)

Join me for a two-day whirlwind trip around the country as an anaesthesia educator 🚗💨

Early 6am start
10 hours on the road
One recorded webinar
One live session with New Zealand 🌏
Four in person lectures delivered
A slightly creepy hotel room thrown in for good measure…

…and plenty of singing and audiobook marathons to keep me going along the way 🎶📚

Wouldn’t have it any other way!

One thing you can count on at the VA Building Confidence Days is..

Gorgeous venues!

Oh, and I guess 6 hours of evidence based lectures (all printed for you), breakfast snacks on arrival, loads of food breaks, a bar to order an afternoon cocktail at, lots of laughs and (hopefully) sunshine!

There’s still tickets for the Galway, Kilkenny, Belfast, Cardiff, Cornwall and Kent days! Book here: https://www.anursethesia.co.uk/calendar

Another stunning morning in London today to kick off the first one of my talks of the year!

I love the vibe of the location, the layout and of course the friendly team here.

Let’s get nerdy!

I’ll be back in the second half of the year for an advanced anaesthesia day in London and hope to see you there!