Idea Exchange: Keep your hands off the anesthesia mask

We are always looking for a way to free up our hands when administering mask anesthesia to our exotic surgical patients. Our solution: We make a hole in the center of tie gauze and place it between the mask's attachment and the tube and then tie the gauze around the patient's face. Always make sure the mask is not pressed against the animal's nose because this would make it impossible for the animal to breathe.

Dr. Emily Hoppmann

Columbia, S.C.