Stay with us! In the final episode of this series, Keith and Courtney introduce Acid-Base Balance and Disturbances. It has taken years for both of them to get to grips on some of the basics of this topic, and they spend the next hour breaking down what is going on and how to interpret the values in front of you. During the second half of this episode, they discuss some case-based scenarios. 

Even if you are not utilising blood gas analysis in practice, it doesn’t mean something acute is not happening to our patients under anaesthesia just because we can’t see it, so it is still useful to understand.

Keep up to date with the Burtons Academy:

Facebook - Burtons Veterinary Equipment | Facebook

Instagram - Burtons Veterinary Equipment (@burtonsveterinaryequipment)

Twitter - Burtons Veterinary Equipment (@Burtonsvet)

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/burtons-medical-equipment/

Last episode, we talked about how carbon dioxide is formed in the body, and how it gets from the cells to the lungs. Now that it has arrived there – what next?! In this episode, Keith and Courtney talk about what happens when carbon dioxide diffuses from the pulmonary capillary into the alveoli to be exhaled. 

They break down the Alveolar Ventilation Equation and the Alveolar Gas Equation into a more user-friendly concept you can apply to your everyday patient and how it is actually useful after the anaesthesia itself. Keith discusses the loss of one of his patients during the recovery period and Courtney shares ways you can continue to support and monitor those patients in this critical time of anaesthesia – after all, your pulse oximeter and capnograph can still be used after they are extubated! 

Keep up to date with the Burtons Academy:

Facebook - Burtons Veterinary Equipment | Facebook

Instagram - Burtons Veterinary Equipment (@burtonsveterinaryequipment)

Twitter - Burtons Veterinary Equipment (@Burtonsvet)

LinkedIn - Burtons Medical Equipment Ltd | LinkedIn

In the first episode on carbon dioxide, Keith and Courtney will undoubtedly make you rethink the role of carbon dioxide in the blood – it isn’t the “bad guy” we perhaps thought it was.  

They start their conversation right down at the cellular level again and discuss how it gets from there to the lungs. How is carbon dioxide carried? At what point does it hitch a right on the haemoglobin (Hb) to return to the lungs to be breathed out? If only 25% of the carbon dioxide is carried in the blood – where is the rest? Why do we talk about bicarbonate when talking about carbon dioxide? There are so many questions! 

Keep up to date with the Burtons Academy:

Follow us on Facebook - Burtons Veterinary Equipment | Facebook

Follow us on Instagram - Burtons Veterinary Equipment (@burtonsveterinaryequipment)

Follow us on Twitter - Burtons Veterinary Equipment (@Burtonsvet)

Follow us on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/burtons-medical-equipment/