186. Analgesia Without Opioids

Only available as part of a package

In veterinary medicine, opioids are the mainstay for treating mild to severe pain. However, in human medicine, widespread opioid therapy led to spikes in addiction and overdose deaths, causing the opioid crisisand eventually, an opioid shortage in the veterinary world. This presentation will discuss the pros and cons of pharmacologic opioid-sparing analgesic drugs and techniques, as well as non-pharmacologic options.

Katrina Lafferty

BFA, RLAT, CVT, VTS (Anesthesia/Analgesia)

Veterinary Technician, Surgical Services | University of Wisconsin–Madison | Madison, Wis.

Katrina Lafferty is one of less than 200 technicians worldwide to hold a veterinary technician specialty in anesthesia. After earning her veterinary technology degree in 2005, she became a senior technician at the University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in the Anesthesia and Pain Management Department. In 2016, Katrina moved to the Wisconsin National Primate Research Center, where she is a lead technician in the Surgery and Anesthesia Department. In her current position, she is responsible for improving and innovating the anesthetic and analgesic care for the center's non-human primate species. With a passion for anesthesia and pain management, particularly in exotic species, Katrina has had the privilege of working with a veritable menagerie of animals, ranging from a two-day-old calf to a 60-year-old tortoise. She has written written numerous articles and textbook chapter and presented at more than 40 continuing education seminars around the world.