Prompted by the variety of anesthetic and analgesic drugs,
patient monitoring equipment, and local and regional differences
in anesthesia practice, the American Animal Hospital Association
(AAHA) convened a task force in January 2011 to develop
anesthesia guidelines for dogs and cats. The guidelines were
published in the November 2011 Journal of the American Animal
Hospital Association (download a PDF at
http://www.aahanet.org/library/Anesthesia_Guidelines.aspx). As
stated in the guidelines, "In recognition of differences among
practices, these guidelines are not meant to establish a
universal anesthetic plan or legal standard." Rather, they are
intended to provide a framework for the delivery of safe and
effective anesthesia and perianesthetic pain management. Diane
Diederich/Getty Images THE ANESTHETIC PLAN Today it is not
sufficient to define "good" anesthesia simply as that which does
not result in patient morbidity and mortality. Providing
appropriate patient comfort, sedation, and analgesia and
minimizi