Anaesthetic monitoring of the patient is needed from the period from initial sedation right through to being conscious and able to sit in sternal recumbency; during this time, an animal should not be left unmonitored. The safety of the patient and the clinical outcome is dependent on your awareness of their vital parameters and your ability to detect and react to abnormalities early before they become an issue.
This section takes you through the key steps in effective monitoring of your patient.