Anesthesiology Study UPDATED
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
tranquilization - CORRECT ANSWER - a state of tranquility and calmness in which the
animal is awake, relaxed, and unconcerned about its surroundings. The animal is easily arousable
and will respond to painful stimuli.
sedation - CORRECT ANSWER - more profound central nervous system depression than
tranquilization in which the animal is awake, sleepy, but still able to be aroused by stimulation.
Minor manipulations can be performed, and aggressive animals may be easier to handle.
surgical anesthesia - CORRECT ANSWER - reversible loss of sensation to all or part of
the body. Unconsciousness, analgesia, and hyporeflexia (relaxation) are characteristic of the
anesthetic state. Additionally, lack of purposeful movement and prevention of undesirable
autonomic responsiveness are desirable anesthetic characteristics. Anesthesia is produced by the
administration of drugs that depress the central and/or peripheral nervous systems.
balanced anesthesia - CORRECT ANSWER - a technique of general anesthesia based on
the concept that administration of a mixture of small amounts of several neuronal depressants
(for example, narcotics and inhalational agents) maximizes the advantages, but not the
disadvantages of, the individual components of the mixture. (from medical-
dictionary.thefreedictionary.com)
dissociative anesthesia - CORRECT ANSWER - type of general anesthesia in which the
animal is 'dissociated' from its surroundings and unaware of external stimuli. These agents
interrupt neurotransmission between the thalamocortical and limbic areas of the CNS. The
animal retains some muscle rigidity (catalepsy); open eyes with palpebral reflexes; and
somewhat intact swallowing reflexes.
What are the 5 necessary components of general anesthesia? - CORRECT ANSWER --
Unconsciousness
- Amnesia
,- Analgesia (more accurately antinociception)
- Immobility
- Attenuation of autonomic response to noxious stimuli
Why is analgesia NOT a necessary component of general anesthesia? - CORRECT
ANSWER - because when an animal is anesthetized it is unconscious and is therefore it
cannot feel pain.
An animal in Stage 2 would show what kind of signs? Is this animal consciously aware of its
environment? - CORRECT ANSWER - - Delirium or involuntary excitement
- No
Up to this point, your sophomore surgery dog has been quite stable at 1.25% isoflurane.
However, when the ovarian pedicle is stretched, your dog's heart rate and respiratory rate
increase. Is this dog:
a) awake and feeling pain? - CORRECT ANSWER - No
Up to this point, your sophomore surgery dog has been quite stable at 1.25% isoflurane.
However, when the ovarian pedicle is stretched, your dog's heart rate and respiratory rate
increase. Is this dog: showing signs of autonomic stimulation? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Yes
Up to this point, your sophomore surgery dog has been quite stable at 1.25% isoflurane.
However, when the ovarian pedicle is stretched, your dog's heart rate and respiratory rate
increase. Is this dog: purposefully responding to inadequate anesthesia? - CORRECT
ANSWER - No
Medicine wishes to "sedate" a dog for percutaneous liver biopsy. Will sedation be sufficient to
perform this procedure? Why or why not? - CORRECT ANSWER - - No because a
sedated animal is awake and will still be able to be aroused by this type of procedure
- Not considered a minor manipulation, could be painful or uncomfortable past the point
tolerated by a sedated animal
, When queried further, Medicine would prefer the dog in (5) to be unconscious, relaxed,
analgesic, and nonresponsive to surgical stimulation. What specific term would best describe
their request? - CORRECT ANSWER - General anesthesia
What is the minimum amount of laboratory data that should be obtained before anesthetizing a
young, healthy animal? Why is this information important? - CORRECT ANSWER --
Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Total Protein (TP)
- Prognostic indicators for how this patient will do under anesthesia
Give an example of a type of patient that would be classified with each of the ASA physical
status classes I through V. - CORRECT ANSWER - - I- healthy puppy undergoing an
OHE
- II- mildly obese dog undergoing an uncomplicated ACL repair
- III- Dog undergoing surgery for a HBC
- IV- great dane undergoing surgery for a GDV
- V- severe HBC with poor prognosis for surviving past the next 24 hours
What types of abnormalities should be corrected prior to the administration of anesthetic drugs?
Explain why. - CORRECT ANSWER - - Stabilize the patient preoperatively: This may
involve parenteral fluid administration, antibiotics, warmth, pain control, etc
- Corrected in order to minimize surgical and anesthetic risk
- These are all areas that are likely to be influenced by anesthetic drugs so you want them as
close to normal as possible before you administer drugs that may alter these parameters
What are the minimum physical exam findings that the anesthetist should be familiar with before
administering anesthetic drugs? - CORRECT ANSWER - - auscultate the heart and lungs
- note any abnormal cardiac rhythms or murmurs
- palpate a peripheral pulse and record heart rate
- note any abnormal lung sounds, record respiratory rate
- note the color of the mucous membranes and the capillary refill time
ACTUAL Exam Questions and CORRECT
Answers
tranquilization - CORRECT ANSWER - a state of tranquility and calmness in which the
animal is awake, relaxed, and unconcerned about its surroundings. The animal is easily arousable
and will respond to painful stimuli.
sedation - CORRECT ANSWER - more profound central nervous system depression than
tranquilization in which the animal is awake, sleepy, but still able to be aroused by stimulation.
Minor manipulations can be performed, and aggressive animals may be easier to handle.
surgical anesthesia - CORRECT ANSWER - reversible loss of sensation to all or part of
the body. Unconsciousness, analgesia, and hyporeflexia (relaxation) are characteristic of the
anesthetic state. Additionally, lack of purposeful movement and prevention of undesirable
autonomic responsiveness are desirable anesthetic characteristics. Anesthesia is produced by the
administration of drugs that depress the central and/or peripheral nervous systems.
balanced anesthesia - CORRECT ANSWER - a technique of general anesthesia based on
the concept that administration of a mixture of small amounts of several neuronal depressants
(for example, narcotics and inhalational agents) maximizes the advantages, but not the
disadvantages of, the individual components of the mixture. (from medical-
dictionary.thefreedictionary.com)
dissociative anesthesia - CORRECT ANSWER - type of general anesthesia in which the
animal is 'dissociated' from its surroundings and unaware of external stimuli. These agents
interrupt neurotransmission between the thalamocortical and limbic areas of the CNS. The
animal retains some muscle rigidity (catalepsy); open eyes with palpebral reflexes; and
somewhat intact swallowing reflexes.
What are the 5 necessary components of general anesthesia? - CORRECT ANSWER --
Unconsciousness
- Amnesia
,- Analgesia (more accurately antinociception)
- Immobility
- Attenuation of autonomic response to noxious stimuli
Why is analgesia NOT a necessary component of general anesthesia? - CORRECT
ANSWER - because when an animal is anesthetized it is unconscious and is therefore it
cannot feel pain.
An animal in Stage 2 would show what kind of signs? Is this animal consciously aware of its
environment? - CORRECT ANSWER - - Delirium or involuntary excitement
- No
Up to this point, your sophomore surgery dog has been quite stable at 1.25% isoflurane.
However, when the ovarian pedicle is stretched, your dog's heart rate and respiratory rate
increase. Is this dog:
a) awake and feeling pain? - CORRECT ANSWER - No
Up to this point, your sophomore surgery dog has been quite stable at 1.25% isoflurane.
However, when the ovarian pedicle is stretched, your dog's heart rate and respiratory rate
increase. Is this dog: showing signs of autonomic stimulation? - CORRECT ANSWER -
Yes
Up to this point, your sophomore surgery dog has been quite stable at 1.25% isoflurane.
However, when the ovarian pedicle is stretched, your dog's heart rate and respiratory rate
increase. Is this dog: purposefully responding to inadequate anesthesia? - CORRECT
ANSWER - No
Medicine wishes to "sedate" a dog for percutaneous liver biopsy. Will sedation be sufficient to
perform this procedure? Why or why not? - CORRECT ANSWER - - No because a
sedated animal is awake and will still be able to be aroused by this type of procedure
- Not considered a minor manipulation, could be painful or uncomfortable past the point
tolerated by a sedated animal
, When queried further, Medicine would prefer the dog in (5) to be unconscious, relaxed,
analgesic, and nonresponsive to surgical stimulation. What specific term would best describe
their request? - CORRECT ANSWER - General anesthesia
What is the minimum amount of laboratory data that should be obtained before anesthetizing a
young, healthy animal? Why is this information important? - CORRECT ANSWER --
Packed Cell Volume (PCV) and Total Protein (TP)
- Prognostic indicators for how this patient will do under anesthesia
Give an example of a type of patient that would be classified with each of the ASA physical
status classes I through V. - CORRECT ANSWER - - I- healthy puppy undergoing an
OHE
- II- mildly obese dog undergoing an uncomplicated ACL repair
- III- Dog undergoing surgery for a HBC
- IV- great dane undergoing surgery for a GDV
- V- severe HBC with poor prognosis for surviving past the next 24 hours
What types of abnormalities should be corrected prior to the administration of anesthetic drugs?
Explain why. - CORRECT ANSWER - - Stabilize the patient preoperatively: This may
involve parenteral fluid administration, antibiotics, warmth, pain control, etc
- Corrected in order to minimize surgical and anesthetic risk
- These are all areas that are likely to be influenced by anesthetic drugs so you want them as
close to normal as possible before you administer drugs that may alter these parameters
What are the minimum physical exam findings that the anesthetist should be familiar with before
administering anesthetic drugs? - CORRECT ANSWER - - auscultate the heart and lungs
- note any abnormal cardiac rhythms or murmurs
- palpate a peripheral pulse and record heart rate
- note any abnormal lung sounds, record respiratory rate
- note the color of the mucous membranes and the capillary refill time
