SUPPLIES AND TECHNICAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR RUMINANT AND SWINE ANESTHESIA

Intravenous catheter placement can save lives during the anesthetic ex perience. Utilization of catheters during ruminant swine anesthesia wi ll make it possible to administer injectable anesthetics, rapidly acce ss the cardiovascular system in response to unanticipated acutely life -threatening events, and perfuse the animal continuously with intraven ous fluids that may help correct the blood Ph anomalies and organ perf usion problems that would otherwise complicate anesthetic procedures i n these animals. This article discusses catheter selection, advantages of different sites, catheterization placement techniques, maintenance , and complications. To help the practitioner select the appropriate m aterials, several tables are included that indicate the manufacturer's name and suggested price for each item. Where appropriate, comments a re made by the authors regarding advantages and disadvantages of each.