Departments & Services: Surgery & Anesthesia |
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General and Orthopedic Surgery:
- Ross A. Lirtzman, DVM, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons
- Jon G. Whitehair, DVM, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Anesthesia and Pain Management Consultants:
- Victoria M. Lukasik, DVM, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists
- Karen Whitehair, DVM, MS, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons, Diplomate American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists
Special Doctors, Special Equipment Due to unique relationships with medical professionals, healthcare equipment vendors and a strong commitment to acquire and maintain only the best possible tools of the trade, Veterinary Surgical Specialists of Scottsdale uses technologies and instruments frequently found in the most modern of today's human surgical centers.
While equipment alone is no substitute for careful assessments, medical attention to detail and precise surgical technique, technologies from healthcare industry leaders GE Diagnostic Imaging, OsiriX DICOM, Dräger Anesthesia, Datex-Ohmeda, Spacelabs, Burdick, Masimo, Nellcor, GE Marquette, Stryker Surgical & Endoscopy, Valleylab, Synthes, Baxter, Medfusion, Cardinal Health, Sontec, Innomed and others are powerfully enabling. And through the use of these types of equipment, disposables and other technologies, we believe we are best able to specifically deliver, aggressively monitor, accurately assess and appropriately treat the critical, changing conditions of your pet during major anesthesia and surgery.
Private, instructional tours of our facilities and equipment may be provided by appointment. We encourage you to see for yourself the difference Veterinary Surgical Specialists of Scottsdale provides for the peri-operative and surgical care for your pets.
Anesthetic Risk – What You Should Know and ExpectSurgical risk and anesthetic risk are, at times, very different.
Specific problems that increase your pet's anesthetic risk should be discussed with your doctor prior to a procedure. You should be informed of what precautions will be taken to increase your pet's safety - who will be dedicated to monitoring your pet's vital signs during anesthesia and how will this be accomplished?
Simply put, anesthetic risk is directly related to the vigilance and expertise of the person who properly and appropriately administers the anesthetic drugs. This person, regardless of experience or training, is called the anesthetist and may be a veterinarian or a non-veterinarian staff member. A dedicated, well-trained anesthetist who monitors your pet's changing status during general anesthesia is absolutely necessary for your pet's well-being. Minimally, your pet's breathing, blood pressure, electrocardiogram (ECG), temperature and oxygenation should be continuously monitored and supported during anesthesia.
An anesthesiologist is a licensed veterinarian who has completed advanced training in anesthesia and has passed a certifying examination process. Most veterinary anesthesiologists practice in veterinary school teaching hospitals across the United States but a few - like Drs. Victoria Lukasik and Karen Whitehair - are in private practice. A board certified veterinary anesthesiologist can provide the highest possible standard of anesthetic care for your pet.
Almost all pets, regardless of increasing risk, may be safely anesthetized. But there is no one anesthetic protocol that is appropriate and safe for all animals. An anesthesiologist's responsibility is to provide safe anesthesia specifically tailored to your pet as well as to anticipate, recognize and treat complications experienced while under anesthesia. And there is no other veterinary provider more qualified to administer anesthetic drugs to your pet than an anesthesiologist board-certified by the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists.
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