Now,anaesthesia dose to animals during surgeries made easy

Till now,there was no specific scientific method to anaesthetise animals during the surgery.

AAU acquired the machine this month from the US-based company Mallard Technology for Rs 26 lakh. The large animal operation theatre anaesthesia machine and the padded recovery room are the first of its kind in India. As it has microprocessors attached to the microcomputer,veterinarians will not have to bother about giving anaesthetic dose at intervals while operating upon the animals.

Deepak Patil,Head of Surgery,AAU Veterinary College said,“Depending upon the animal’s weight,the microcomputer will release anaesthesia at regular intervals while the animal is being operated upon.”

J V Solanki,the principal of Veterinary College,AAU,said: “Operating upon big animals is a problem – the reason being that the animals need to be anaesthetised at regular time intervals,which requires expertise. Tranquilising and administering anaesthesia are two different things. Tranquilisers are administered on the spot to rescue an animal and anaesthesia is given while operating on the animals.”

He added,“The first two animals tested on this machine on June 10 were a 500-kg bullock and a 100 kg horse.”

For the demonstration of this machine,Dr George Bohart and Tracy Becken from the Michigan State University were invited.

Patil added that the machine has,however,not been tested on other animals.

AAU is not affiliated with government institutions of veterinary and agriculture,but several small and large animals are referred to the Department of Surgery at AAU Veterinary College from several districts.

Patil further said: “Unlike other countries,we do not have specialists in cardiology,anaesthetics and other field of veterinary sciences. We,however,carry out surgeries on animals,right from renal to heart problems. The anaesthesia machine will help make up for the dearth of anaesthetia experts.”