Mechanical ventilation: Beyond the spontaneous breath
Tracks
Stream One - Plaza Terrace
| Friday, March 27, 2026 |
| 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM |
| Plaza Terrace |
Overview
Marcia Fletcher
Speaker
Mrs Marcia Fletcher
The Pink Stethoscope
Mechanical ventilation: Beyond the spontaneous breath
Abstract
Mechanical ventilators are becoming an increasingly popular accessory in small animal anaesthesia and emergency management and are affordable enough that many hospitals are investing in them. Mechanical ventilators allow us to deliver positive pressure ventilatory support to anesthetised
patients and have many benefits to both our patient and the veterinary anaesthetist. This lecture will dive into the ventilator world - discussing the anatomy of the ventilator, types of bellows and the common modes of ventilation, before discussing what we want to achieve when our patient is being ventilated mechanically, and which patients will benefit the most from positive pressure ventilation. Expected capnography waveforms are covered, along with some nursing requirements for
the recumbent and ventilated patient.
patients and have many benefits to both our patient and the veterinary anaesthetist. This lecture will dive into the ventilator world - discussing the anatomy of the ventilator, types of bellows and the common modes of ventilation, before discussing what we want to achieve when our patient is being ventilated mechanically, and which patients will benefit the most from positive pressure ventilation. Expected capnography waveforms are covered, along with some nursing requirements for
the recumbent and ventilated patient.
Biography
Marcia is a registered veterinary nurse specialist, thought leader and an international speaker. Having over 20 years’ experience in veterinary anaesthesia, she started her career working for the Massey University Veterinary Teaching Hospital in New Zealand and was the senior anaesthesia nurse there for over 16 years. In 2011 she became New
Zealand’s first Veterinary Technician Specialist in Anaesthesia and Analgesia. She has been awarded New Zealand’s “Vet Nurse of the Year”, and several teaching awards including “Teacher of the Year”. Marcia is also New Zealand’s first RECOVER certified instructor of both basic and advanced CPR, providing CPR training both nationally and internationally. In 2020 Marcia left the university teaching life and created The Pink Stethoscope, her platform to elevate veterinary anaesthesia within the entire veterinary community. Through The Pink Stethoscope she independently provides postgraduate veterinary anaesthesia education, training, webinars, workshops and consultations. Marcia loves all aspects of veterinary anaesthesia teaching. Her passion has always been instilling anaesthesia knowledge to the greater veterinary profession - to make a somewhat challenging subject less stressful, and ultimately to empower veterinary professionals to continue their anaesthesia learning journey.
Away from work Marcia is a busy kiwi mum, enjoying her home life with her husband, daughter, son, and very special “fur-daughter” Minnie the tuxedo cat.
