Anaesthesia and Analgesia

Overview

Our Anaesthesia and Pain Management service at Lumbry Park is led by a team of European and RCVS Specialists in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, including Karla Borland, Joanne Michou, Maria Chie Niimura del Barrio, Martina Cambruzzi, and Camilla Ferrero. Our specialists are supported by ECVAA anaesthesia residents and a team of highly trained Registered Veterinary Nurses, ensuring each patient receives expert, personalised care.

All patients requiring sedation or anaesthesia are under the direct care of an Anaesthesia Specialist. Every sedation, anaesthesia, or pain management plan is tailored to the patient’s specific needs, with continuous and constant monitoring by a dedicated member of our team, to assess physiological status and ensure optimal comfort. Using evidence-based practices, applied pharmacology and physiology, and the latest locoregional anaesthetic techniques, we aim to deliver the highest standard of care. Our team also uses validated pain scoring systems to monitor and manage pain effectively in both dogs and cats.

For complex chronic pain cases, our team collaborates closely with other Lumbry Park specialists, including those in neurology, orthopaedics, physiotherapy, oncology, and diagnostic imaging. Together, we provide comprehensive pain management in our Pain Clinic, optimising outcomes for chronic conditions.

We prioritise strong relationships with our referring veterinarians and are always available to offer guidance and support via phone or email.

Why does my pet need to be anaesthetised?

Anaesthesia is much more commonly performed in our patients than in humans, for surgical and medical interventions, and also for diagnostic imaging. Unlike humans, we cannot ask our patients to lie still in specific positions for X-rays or MRI scans and they may be anxious in an unfamiliar hospital environment. We can therefore opt to sedate and/or anaesthetise our patients to ensure they are not stressed or frightened and to maintain patient comfort and safety during and after procedures.

What is a general anaesthesia?

General anaesthesia is a state of reversible unconsciousness when the patient will appear ‘asleep’ under anaesthesia; they do not feel pain and are not aware of what is happening. All the drugs used for sedation and anaesthesia have potential side-effects, and although uncommon, there is a risk with every anaesthetic procedure. We make every effort to minimise these risks by using highly trained staff to monitor each patient throughout and after the procedure. It is important that general anaesthesia is performed by qualified knowledgeable personnel to have the best outcomes for our patients.

How do we keep the patient safe during general anaesthesia?

Our aim is to always provide maximum possible safety and comfort for our patients, including during the preoperative period, during sedation or general anaesthesia and during recovery. Our anaesthesia team, comprising of veterinary anaesthesia specialists and highly trained, qualified nurses, are in charge for the duration of this period. All patients are carefully monitored throughout. We use sophisticated monitoring equipment and techniques, enabling us to pre-empt any problems that may arise and treat these quickly and effectively.