Having a dense moment.....

Re: Having a dense moment.....

Emma Bacon — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 17:46:12 GMT

Thanks very much everyone for all your advice.....

I do use sternal for recovery from anaesthesia as a general rule, but in a crisis or first aid situation apparently it should be right lateral simply to enable access to heart for compressions, administration of drugs etc.... Possibly I was just overthinking it before!!

Re: Having a dense moment.....

Tracey Louise — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:54:30 GMT

[quote user="Kate Claxton DipAVN(Med)VN"]

As far as I was aware, it's left lateral not right for recovery. The rationale is that the right lung is larger, with three lobes, so you're not compressing the larger lung during recovery

[/quote]

I use sternal for brachycephalics etc and right lateral for nearly everything else

Re: Having a dense moment.....

Chelly — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 13:50:03 GMT

Just in case any complications..then in the correct position for chest compressions??

Re: Having a dense moment.....

bumble bee — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 11:44:07 GMT

Yep! thats right.

Re: Having a dense moment.....

bongo — Sun, 13 Mar 2011 15:55:09 GMT

isnt it right lateral if you need to do chest compressions as part of CPR. didnt think it mattered for recovery in general? As long as they are turned regularly (although if recovering from GA they shouldnt be recumbent for long enough to need turning unless they were on a sedation CRI or had had an epidural or something). If I can I get them into sternal as soon as poss to avoid them laying on one side. Isnt it called hypostatic pneumonia they can get from being led on one side for too long?

Re: Having a dense moment.....

Royalsuper_fairy — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 15:19:03 GMT

I always use sternal for my patients

Re: Having a dense moment.....

BengalcatRVN — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:57:25 GMT

I generally use sternal recumbancy as well.

Re: Having a dense moment.....

bumble bee — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 13:43:50 GMT

I have vague recollection that it's because heart on the left so right lateral recumbency gives greater lung space.However if in doubt use sternal.

Re: Having a dense moment.....

Kate Claxton DipAVN(Med)VN — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 17:57:59 GMT

As far as I was aware, it's left lateral not right for recovery. The rationale is that the right lung is larger, with three lobes, so you're not compressing the larger lung during recovery, improving oxygenation. You're also not compressing the vena cava, improving venous return (the reason why animals having caesars should be slightly tilted to the left, so the gravid uterus doesn't compress the vena cava). However, I've worked with vets who prefer animals to recover in sternal (with padding!) to allow both lungs to inflate more efficiently. The only reason I'd use right lateral would be with an animal with a right sided wound, or post GDV surgery so the stomach's not compressed.