1 | Page
PIL AB Questions and Answers Latest
2026
What is local anaesthesia? Ans: Local, reversible loss of
sensation without loss of consciousness
What is general anaesthesia? Ans: Administration of
drugs that produce a loss of consciousness
Name a local anaesthetic cream and its common use Ans:
EMLA
Prevent pain or discomfort associated with venepuncture
In what circumstances would you anaesthetise an animal?
Ans: To provide immobility so the animal does not
displace catheters or move during imaging procedures.
To prevent pain during experimental procedures.
To prevent distress during physical restraint
Which of the three Rs are relevant to use of anaesthesia?
Ans: Reduction - minimise death due to poor anaesthetic
technique
Refinement - minimise pain
What affect does anaesthesia have on the cardiovascular
and respiratory systems? Ans: It depresses them
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, 2 | Page
What effects can anaesthesia have which might disrupt
particular research projects? Ans: Alterations in immune
function, metastatic rates of tumours, changes in organ
blood flow distribution, competition for enzyme
pathways, interaction with receptors and changes in
gastrointestinal motility
Do mice need to fast before use of anaesthesia? Ans: No
as they cannot vomit
What is the triad of anaesthesia? Ans: Loss of sensation
Loss of consciousness
Production of muscle relaxation
List the advantages of inhalational anaesthesia Ans:
They are simple to administer
Induction (onset) of anaesthesia is usually smooth and
rapid.
It is easy to change the depth of anaesthesia
Recovery is usually rapid (within 10-15 minutes) and
uneventful
List the disadvantages of inhalational anaesthesia Ans:
The equipment needed for their safe use is relatively
expensive
It is usually possible to anaesthetise only one animal at a
time
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, 3 | Page
Waste anaesthetic gases must be removed for health and
safety reasons
List the advantages of injectable anaesthesia Ans:
Multiple animals can be anaesthetised at the same time
(provided you can monitor them effectively).
Injectable anaesthetics do not require the use of
specialist equipment, but it is important to be able to
deliver oxygen as many of these agents cause respiratory
depression.
List the disadvantages of injectable anaesthesia Ans:
Once the anaesthetic has been administered the dose
cannot be changed.
There is individual variability in the response to a given
dose of anaesthetic.
Since the dose of anaesthetic needed by individual
animals varies, the best way to give these agents is by
intravenous injection. This is the preferred route for
administering injectable anaesthetics as it allows the
dose to be adjusted to match the particular animal's
requirements. Unfortunately, it can be technically
difficult to use this route in small rodents, so most
injectable anaesthetics are given by intraperitoneal or
subcutaneous injection in these species.
What is ketamine combined with when used as an
anaesthetic? Ans: Medetomidine
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, 4 | Page
What are the considerations when using intramuscular
injection of anaesthesia? Ans: It takes about 5-10
minutes for anaesthesia to develop after intramuscular
administration. Can cause pain on administration in
small rodents as the muscle mass is so small relative to
the volume to be injected. Some agents are irritant and
can cause muscle damage ( e.g. Ketamine ).
What are the considerations when using intravenous
injection of anaesthesia? Ans: Ideal as the dose can be
adjusted to be appropriate for the individual animal, and
to produce the depth of anaesthesia required.
Unfortunately intravenous injection is technically
demanding in small rodents.
What are the considerations when using intraperitoneal
injection of anaesthesia? Ans: This is one of the most
widely used means of giving injectable anaesthetics to
rodents, but in 5-10% of cases not all of the injected
anaesthetic is delivered intraperitoneally. If a large
proportion is delivered into the fat or intestines, then an
inadequate anaesthetic effect will be produced. Not all
anaesthetics are suitable for administration by this route
What are the considerations when using subcutaneous
injection of anaesthesia? Ans: It takes 5 - 15 minutes for
anaesthesia to develop after subcutaneous
administration. It may be less stressful and produce more
consistent results than use of the intramuscular or
intraperitoneal routes. Not all anaesthetics are suitable
for administration by this route.
© 2025 All rights reserved
PIL AB Questions and Answers Latest
2026
What is local anaesthesia? Ans: Local, reversible loss of
sensation without loss of consciousness
What is general anaesthesia? Ans: Administration of
drugs that produce a loss of consciousness
Name a local anaesthetic cream and its common use Ans:
EMLA
Prevent pain or discomfort associated with venepuncture
In what circumstances would you anaesthetise an animal?
Ans: To provide immobility so the animal does not
displace catheters or move during imaging procedures.
To prevent pain during experimental procedures.
To prevent distress during physical restraint
Which of the three Rs are relevant to use of anaesthesia?
Ans: Reduction - minimise death due to poor anaesthetic
technique
Refinement - minimise pain
What affect does anaesthesia have on the cardiovascular
and respiratory systems? Ans: It depresses them
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 2 | Page
What effects can anaesthesia have which might disrupt
particular research projects? Ans: Alterations in immune
function, metastatic rates of tumours, changes in organ
blood flow distribution, competition for enzyme
pathways, interaction with receptors and changes in
gastrointestinal motility
Do mice need to fast before use of anaesthesia? Ans: No
as they cannot vomit
What is the triad of anaesthesia? Ans: Loss of sensation
Loss of consciousness
Production of muscle relaxation
List the advantages of inhalational anaesthesia Ans:
They are simple to administer
Induction (onset) of anaesthesia is usually smooth and
rapid.
It is easy to change the depth of anaesthesia
Recovery is usually rapid (within 10-15 minutes) and
uneventful
List the disadvantages of inhalational anaesthesia Ans:
The equipment needed for their safe use is relatively
expensive
It is usually possible to anaesthetise only one animal at a
time
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 3 | Page
Waste anaesthetic gases must be removed for health and
safety reasons
List the advantages of injectable anaesthesia Ans:
Multiple animals can be anaesthetised at the same time
(provided you can monitor them effectively).
Injectable anaesthetics do not require the use of
specialist equipment, but it is important to be able to
deliver oxygen as many of these agents cause respiratory
depression.
List the disadvantages of injectable anaesthesia Ans:
Once the anaesthetic has been administered the dose
cannot be changed.
There is individual variability in the response to a given
dose of anaesthetic.
Since the dose of anaesthetic needed by individual
animals varies, the best way to give these agents is by
intravenous injection. This is the preferred route for
administering injectable anaesthetics as it allows the
dose to be adjusted to match the particular animal's
requirements. Unfortunately, it can be technically
difficult to use this route in small rodents, so most
injectable anaesthetics are given by intraperitoneal or
subcutaneous injection in these species.
What is ketamine combined with when used as an
anaesthetic? Ans: Medetomidine
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4 | Page
What are the considerations when using intramuscular
injection of anaesthesia? Ans: It takes about 5-10
minutes for anaesthesia to develop after intramuscular
administration. Can cause pain on administration in
small rodents as the muscle mass is so small relative to
the volume to be injected. Some agents are irritant and
can cause muscle damage ( e.g. Ketamine ).
What are the considerations when using intravenous
injection of anaesthesia? Ans: Ideal as the dose can be
adjusted to be appropriate for the individual animal, and
to produce the depth of anaesthesia required.
Unfortunately intravenous injection is technically
demanding in small rodents.
What are the considerations when using intraperitoneal
injection of anaesthesia? Ans: This is one of the most
widely used means of giving injectable anaesthetics to
rodents, but in 5-10% of cases not all of the injected
anaesthetic is delivered intraperitoneally. If a large
proportion is delivered into the fat or intestines, then an
inadequate anaesthetic effect will be produced. Not all
anaesthetics are suitable for administration by this route
What are the considerations when using subcutaneous
injection of anaesthesia? Ans: It takes 5 - 15 minutes for
anaesthesia to develop after subcutaneous
administration. It may be less stressful and produce more
consistent results than use of the intramuscular or
intraperitoneal routes. Not all anaesthetics are suitable
for administration by this route.
© 2025 All rights reserved
