Anesthetic equipment fault leading to hypercapnia in a cat

Spontaneous ventilation during positive pressure ventilation was observed in a 4-year-old DSH cat maintained under general anesthesia with isoflurane delivered with a nonrebreathing system. This was accompanied by an increase in heart rate and blood pressure. On investigation, neither an inadequate plane of anesthesia, nor hypoxemia, nor hyperthermia was present. The nonrebreathing system was replaced and the hypercapnia resolved. A defect in the inner fresh gas delivery tube of the Bain system was identified. A simple and quick test is described which can be performed to verify the integrity of the inner tube of the Bain breathing circuit.     

Use of continuous positive airway pressure in the acute management of laryngeal paralysis in a cat

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) has been is used widely in humans to manage obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, but it has not been widely used in animals. A brachycephalic cat, with previously undiagnosed laryngeal paralysis, that developed acute upper respiratory tract obstruction on recovery from anaesthesia, is presented. The condition was managed by CPAP, delivered via a facial mask.