What parameters should a veterinary patient monitor display during anaesthesia?

The recommended minimum for general practice is ECG (heart rate and rhythm), SpO2 (pulse oximetry), NIBP (non-invasive blood pressure), and body temperature. End-tidal CO2 (capnography) is the single most informative parameter for ventilation quality and is standard in any practice seeing more than 5 anaesthetics per week.

How is NIBP cuff size selected for veterinary patients?

The cuff width should be approximately 40% of the circumference of the limb where it is placed. An undersized cuff produces falsely elevated readings; an oversized cuff gives falsely low readings. Most veterinary monitor suppliers provide a cuff size chart for canine, feline and paediatric patients.

Can a veterinary patient monitor be used for both anaesthesia monitoring and recovery monitoring?

Yes. The same multiparameter monitor can be used through induction, maintenance and recovery. Most units include trend logging so that vital signs recorded during the procedure can be reviewed during recovery or transferred to the patient record.