Breathing battle - challenges anaesthetising the patient with lower airway disease (LVS25)

Anaesthetising patients with lower airway disease can be a real challenge. This session will equip veterinary nurses with essential knowledge to manage these cases safely—from pre-op stabilisation to post-op recovery. Key focus areas include respiratory physiology, ventilation strategies, capnography interpretation, and the use of spirometry to assess respiratory function. Through practical tips and real-life case examples, attendees will gain confidence in recognising complications, such as hypoxaemia and bronchoconstriction, and provide safe anaesthesia to high-risk respiratory patients.

• Understand the pathophysiology of common lower airway diseases
• Recognise the anaesthetic risks for the respiratory compromised patient and plan for complications
• Apply effective and safe ventilation strategies and monitoring techniques
• Interpret capnography and spirometry readings and use it to optimise ventilation