ANESTHESIA EXAM 1 QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
Anesthesia Definition - Correct Answers -Loss of sensation to all or part of the body
Analgesia Definition - Correct Answers -Without pain
What are the components of general anesthesia? - Correct Answers -• Animal is
unconscious and unaware of its surroundings
• Unconsciousness (hypnosis, narcosis)
• Muscle relaxation
• Lack of pain (analgesia)
• Loss of memory (amnesia)
• Suppression of reflexes (motor, autonomic)
• All without harming the patient
What are the general principles of veterinary anesthesia? - Correct Answers -•
Physiology, pharmacology, and pathology are building blocks for the science behind
anesthesia
• Adequate standard of monitoring
• Additional requirements
○ Species differences in anatomy, pharmacologic effects, and metabolism of drugs
○ Humane treatment-prevention of pain, relief from anxiety and stress, sympathetic
handling
○ Prevention of injury to animal and personnel
• Critical evaluation of history, physical examination, and laboratory data -> know your
patient
• Stabilize and correct identified abnormalities, if possible, prior to anesthesia
• Be organized and efficient to minimize anesthesia time
• Select anesthetic protocol based on patient, existing abnormalities and to minimize
adverse effects
• Identify and prepare for potential complications and underlying pathologies
• Establish intravenous access whenever possible
• Secure and maintain patent airway
• Use supplemental oxygen when indicated and provide ventilatory support
• Monitor vital body systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, and CNS)
• Identify and correct abnormalities that arise
,• Continue monitoring and support through recovery period
• Use appropriate analgesia and sedation to minimize pain and distress
Why is pre-anesthetic patient evaluation important? - Correct Answers -• Identifies
individual risk factors
• Underlying physiologic abnormalities
Contributes information for development of an individualized anesthetic plan
Pre-Anesthetic Fasting Requirements and Consequences for Inadequate Fasting for
Cats and Dogs - Correct Answers -○ 6-12 hours fast
○ Free access to water up until procedure (1 hour before)
○ Fast about 4 hours up to 4 months of age - risk of hypoglycemia
○ Decreases risk of regurgitation and aspiration
Pre-Anesthetic Fasting Requirements and Consequences for Inadequate Fasting for
Horses - Correct Answers -○ 6-12 hour fast
○ Access to water
○ The weight of GI contents increases pressure on diaphragm and limits lung
expansion -> decreased ventilation results in decreased arterial oxygen and increased
arterial carbon dioxide levels -> ventilation-perfusion mismatch
Pre-Anesthetic Fasting Requirements and Consequences for Inadequate Fasting for
Cattle - Correct Answers -○ 24-48 hours food
○ 12-24 hours water
○ Regurgitation and aspiration of rumen contents
Bloat -> pressure on diaphragm, limits lung expansion -> decreased ventilation results
in decreased arterial oxygen and increased arterial carbon dioxide levels -> ventilation-
perfusion mismatch
Pre-Anesthetic Fasting Requirements and Consequences for Inadequate Fasting for
Sheep and Goats - Correct Answers -○ 12-24 hours food
○ +/- water
○ Ruminants less than 4 weeks fast only 2-4 hours, nursing, monogastric, less prone to
regurgitation
○ Regurgitation and aspiration of rumen contents
○ Bloat -> pressure on diaphragm, limits lung expansion -> decreased ventilation
results in decreased arterial oxygen and increased arterial carbon dioxide levels ->
ventilation-perfusion mismatch
Why are fasting recommendations different for pediatric patients? - Correct Answers -•
Due to the risk of hypoglycemia, their livers are not fully developed yet and therefore
they cannot regulate their blood-glucose
What type of drug is Maropitant? Explain its use as a peri-operative medication. -
Correct Answers -• Neurokinin-1 antagonist
, • Give 1.0 mg/kg subQ at least one hours before opioid premedication to prevent
vomiting and signs of nausea associated with opioid drugs
• Also provides adjunct analgesia
• Faster return to feeding post-operatively
What are the general steps of anesthesia? - Correct Answers -• Pre-anesthetic
evaluation
• Premedication period
• Induction of anesthesia
• Maintenance
• Recovery
• Post-anesthetic period
What are the components of the pre-anesthetic minimum data base? - Correct Answers
-Signalment
History
Physical exam
Laboratory and diagnostic tests
What does signalment consist of? - Correct Answers -Species
Breed
Age
Sex/neuter status
Temperament
Weight and body condition score
What are the specific breed related anesthetic issues presented in lecture? - Correct
Answers -• Brachycephalic breeds more prone to upper airway obstruction
• Greyhounds and drug metabolism
• Breed disposition to cardiac disease (Cavalier, Maine coon)
• Poland China, Landrace, Duroc pigs, and malignant hyperthermia
• QH and hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP)
• Draft horses and laryngeal hemiplegia - 35%
Why might geriatric and pediatric patients have an increase in anesthetic risk? - Correct
Answers -• Geriatric patients may have increased anesthetic risk due to less organ
reserve, especially cardiovascular, liver, kidney
• Pediatric patients may have increased risk from hypoglycemia, hypothermia,
decreased drug metabolism
How does temperament affect anesthetic management of a patient? - Correct Answers -
• Aggressive/fractious temperament
□ Poses a danger to staff
□ Limits pre-anesthetic examination
□ Need for more potent drugs, higher doses, or combinations for aggressive or overly
fearful animals
, What should be included in a thorough pre-anesthetic history? - Correct Answers -•
Evaluation of underlying disease process
§ Systemic effects chronicity
• ID other abnormalities
§ Co-morbidities that may affect outcome of surgery
• Diet, exercise, environment
• Past medical problems
• Current medications
§ Identify all prescribed and over-the-counter medications (including aspirin) and
supplements to avoid adverse drug interactions
• Past anesthesia -> any complications?
Explain the pre-emptive pain score. - Correct Answers -• Assigns level of pain to
procedure/underlying disease
• None, mild, moderate, severe
• Allows for pre-emptive and intra-operative analgesic plan
How does the knowledge of the specific procedure assist with anesthetic planning? -
Correct Answers -• Evaluate the procedure's level of invasiveness and duration
• Anticipated level of pain
• Risk of hemorrhage and other complications
AFTER a complete physical exam, on which body systems should the pre-anesthetic
evaluation focus? - Correct Answers -Cardiovascular, respiratory, CNS, liver and kidney
function
What are the recommended pre-anesthetic laboratory data bases? - Correct Answers -•
Normal healthy or with localized disease (less than 5 years old)
§ Big 4 - packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP), azostrip, blood glucose (BG)
• More than 5-7 years - CBC, CHEM, urinalysis even if status I or II
• Other: clotting times, colloid oncotic pressure
What are the components of the 'Big 4'? - Correct Answers -Packed cell volume (PCV)
Total protein (TP)
Azostrip
Blood glucose (BG)
What is the minimum acceptable MAP in horses? Why? - Correct Answers -70 mmHg
They are very heavily muscled and when they are recumbent, we need higher
pressures to maintain blood flow through the muscle mass, otherwise they may be
prone to muscle ischemia and subsequent post-anesthetic myopathy
Where can the pulse oximeter probe be applied in veterinary medicine? - Correct
Answers -Tongue, lip, toe web, ear, prepuce, vulva
AND ANSWERS
Anesthesia Definition - Correct Answers -Loss of sensation to all or part of the body
Analgesia Definition - Correct Answers -Without pain
What are the components of general anesthesia? - Correct Answers -• Animal is
unconscious and unaware of its surroundings
• Unconsciousness (hypnosis, narcosis)
• Muscle relaxation
• Lack of pain (analgesia)
• Loss of memory (amnesia)
• Suppression of reflexes (motor, autonomic)
• All without harming the patient
What are the general principles of veterinary anesthesia? - Correct Answers -•
Physiology, pharmacology, and pathology are building blocks for the science behind
anesthesia
• Adequate standard of monitoring
• Additional requirements
○ Species differences in anatomy, pharmacologic effects, and metabolism of drugs
○ Humane treatment-prevention of pain, relief from anxiety and stress, sympathetic
handling
○ Prevention of injury to animal and personnel
• Critical evaluation of history, physical examination, and laboratory data -> know your
patient
• Stabilize and correct identified abnormalities, if possible, prior to anesthesia
• Be organized and efficient to minimize anesthesia time
• Select anesthetic protocol based on patient, existing abnormalities and to minimize
adverse effects
• Identify and prepare for potential complications and underlying pathologies
• Establish intravenous access whenever possible
• Secure and maintain patent airway
• Use supplemental oxygen when indicated and provide ventilatory support
• Monitor vital body systems (cardiovascular, respiratory, and CNS)
• Identify and correct abnormalities that arise
,• Continue monitoring and support through recovery period
• Use appropriate analgesia and sedation to minimize pain and distress
Why is pre-anesthetic patient evaluation important? - Correct Answers -• Identifies
individual risk factors
• Underlying physiologic abnormalities
Contributes information for development of an individualized anesthetic plan
Pre-Anesthetic Fasting Requirements and Consequences for Inadequate Fasting for
Cats and Dogs - Correct Answers -○ 6-12 hours fast
○ Free access to water up until procedure (1 hour before)
○ Fast about 4 hours up to 4 months of age - risk of hypoglycemia
○ Decreases risk of regurgitation and aspiration
Pre-Anesthetic Fasting Requirements and Consequences for Inadequate Fasting for
Horses - Correct Answers -○ 6-12 hour fast
○ Access to water
○ The weight of GI contents increases pressure on diaphragm and limits lung
expansion -> decreased ventilation results in decreased arterial oxygen and increased
arterial carbon dioxide levels -> ventilation-perfusion mismatch
Pre-Anesthetic Fasting Requirements and Consequences for Inadequate Fasting for
Cattle - Correct Answers -○ 24-48 hours food
○ 12-24 hours water
○ Regurgitation and aspiration of rumen contents
Bloat -> pressure on diaphragm, limits lung expansion -> decreased ventilation results
in decreased arterial oxygen and increased arterial carbon dioxide levels -> ventilation-
perfusion mismatch
Pre-Anesthetic Fasting Requirements and Consequences for Inadequate Fasting for
Sheep and Goats - Correct Answers -○ 12-24 hours food
○ +/- water
○ Ruminants less than 4 weeks fast only 2-4 hours, nursing, monogastric, less prone to
regurgitation
○ Regurgitation and aspiration of rumen contents
○ Bloat -> pressure on diaphragm, limits lung expansion -> decreased ventilation
results in decreased arterial oxygen and increased arterial carbon dioxide levels ->
ventilation-perfusion mismatch
Why are fasting recommendations different for pediatric patients? - Correct Answers -•
Due to the risk of hypoglycemia, their livers are not fully developed yet and therefore
they cannot regulate their blood-glucose
What type of drug is Maropitant? Explain its use as a peri-operative medication. -
Correct Answers -• Neurokinin-1 antagonist
, • Give 1.0 mg/kg subQ at least one hours before opioid premedication to prevent
vomiting and signs of nausea associated with opioid drugs
• Also provides adjunct analgesia
• Faster return to feeding post-operatively
What are the general steps of anesthesia? - Correct Answers -• Pre-anesthetic
evaluation
• Premedication period
• Induction of anesthesia
• Maintenance
• Recovery
• Post-anesthetic period
What are the components of the pre-anesthetic minimum data base? - Correct Answers
-Signalment
History
Physical exam
Laboratory and diagnostic tests
What does signalment consist of? - Correct Answers -Species
Breed
Age
Sex/neuter status
Temperament
Weight and body condition score
What are the specific breed related anesthetic issues presented in lecture? - Correct
Answers -• Brachycephalic breeds more prone to upper airway obstruction
• Greyhounds and drug metabolism
• Breed disposition to cardiac disease (Cavalier, Maine coon)
• Poland China, Landrace, Duroc pigs, and malignant hyperthermia
• QH and hyperkalemic periodic paralysis (HYPP)
• Draft horses and laryngeal hemiplegia - 35%
Why might geriatric and pediatric patients have an increase in anesthetic risk? - Correct
Answers -• Geriatric patients may have increased anesthetic risk due to less organ
reserve, especially cardiovascular, liver, kidney
• Pediatric patients may have increased risk from hypoglycemia, hypothermia,
decreased drug metabolism
How does temperament affect anesthetic management of a patient? - Correct Answers -
• Aggressive/fractious temperament
□ Poses a danger to staff
□ Limits pre-anesthetic examination
□ Need for more potent drugs, higher doses, or combinations for aggressive or overly
fearful animals
, What should be included in a thorough pre-anesthetic history? - Correct Answers -•
Evaluation of underlying disease process
§ Systemic effects chronicity
• ID other abnormalities
§ Co-morbidities that may affect outcome of surgery
• Diet, exercise, environment
• Past medical problems
• Current medications
§ Identify all prescribed and over-the-counter medications (including aspirin) and
supplements to avoid adverse drug interactions
• Past anesthesia -> any complications?
Explain the pre-emptive pain score. - Correct Answers -• Assigns level of pain to
procedure/underlying disease
• None, mild, moderate, severe
• Allows for pre-emptive and intra-operative analgesic plan
How does the knowledge of the specific procedure assist with anesthetic planning? -
Correct Answers -• Evaluate the procedure's level of invasiveness and duration
• Anticipated level of pain
• Risk of hemorrhage and other complications
AFTER a complete physical exam, on which body systems should the pre-anesthetic
evaluation focus? - Correct Answers -Cardiovascular, respiratory, CNS, liver and kidney
function
What are the recommended pre-anesthetic laboratory data bases? - Correct Answers -•
Normal healthy or with localized disease (less than 5 years old)
§ Big 4 - packed cell volume (PCV), total protein (TP), azostrip, blood glucose (BG)
• More than 5-7 years - CBC, CHEM, urinalysis even if status I or II
• Other: clotting times, colloid oncotic pressure
What are the components of the 'Big 4'? - Correct Answers -Packed cell volume (PCV)
Total protein (TP)
Azostrip
Blood glucose (BG)
What is the minimum acceptable MAP in horses? Why? - Correct Answers -70 mmHg
They are very heavily muscled and when they are recumbent, we need higher
pressures to maintain blood flow through the muscle mass, otherwise they may be
prone to muscle ischemia and subsequent post-anesthetic myopathy
Where can the pulse oximeter probe be applied in veterinary medicine? - Correct
Answers -Tongue, lip, toe web, ear, prepuce, vulva
