8:00 am - 9:30 am

Anesthesia for the formidable ophthalmic patient: top tips for challenging co-morbidities.

Anesthetic considerations for common co-morbidities in animals with ocular disease: Diabetes, Heart disease, and Brachycephalic Airway Syndrome  

9:40 am – 11:00 am

Under pressure: Avoiding hypotension during anesthesia.

Guidelines and advice for managing blood pressure and hypotension during anesthesia.

11:10 am - 12:00 pm

Practical pearls for neuromuscular blockade- what’s new?

Neuromuscular blockade for ophthalmic surgeries - important monitoring, ventilatory support, and considerations for drug reversal. 

Kristen Messenger, DVM, PhD, DACVAA, DACVCP

Kristen Messenger is an Associate Professor of Clinical Pharmacology and Board Certified Veterinary Anesthesiologist at North Carolina State University.  She completed her DVM at NC State and an internship in emergency and critical care at Louisville Veterinary Specialty and Emergency Services in KY.  She completed a residency in anesthesiology, followed by a combined PhD-residency in Clinical Pharmacology, at NCSU. She is board-certified in both anesthesia and clinical pharmacology, and currently works with each of these specialty services at NCSU. Dr. Messenger has published over 60 peer reviewed manuscripts and has received numerous teaching awards during her career. She is especially interested in pain management and loves all things anesthesia and pharmacology. Outside of work, she spends her time taking care of her numerous animals, gardening, cooking, and spending as much time outdoors as possible.