ALAT Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals

Question 1

Which of the following is the most commonly used injectable anesthetic combination in laboratory rodents?

Accepted Answer

Ketamine/xylazine

Answer

Ketamine/xylazine is the most widely used injectable anesthetic combination in laboratory rodents due to its effectiveness, ease of administration, and availability of a partial reversal agent (atipamezole for xylazine).

Question 2

What is the primary purpose of a pre-anesthetic evaluation in laboratory animals?

Accepted Answer

To assess health status and identify potential anesthetic risks

Answer

Pre-anesthetic evaluation assesses the animal's overall health status to identify conditions that may increase anesthetic risk and guide appropriate agent selection and dosing.

Question 3

Which monitoring parameter most directly reflects cardiovascular function during anesthesia?

Accepted Answer

Heart rate and pulse quality

Answer

Heart rate and pulse quality directly reflect cardiac output and peripheral perfusion, making them essential cardiovascular monitoring parameters during anesthesia.

Question 4

What is the appropriate first response if an anesthetized animal's respiratory rate drops significantly below normal?

Accepted Answer

Administer a reversal agent if available and provide ventilatory support

Answer

A significantly decreased respiratory rate indicates excessive anesthetic depth or respiratory compromise requiring immediate ventilatory support and reversal agents if applicable.

Question 5

Which route of administration is most commonly used to induce inhalant anesthesia in small laboratory rodents?

Accepted Answer

Induction chamber followed by nose cone maintenance

Answer

Induction chambers allow safe delivery of inhalant anesthetics to small rodents who cannot easily be masked initially; a nose cone is then used for maintenance.

ALAT - Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician Practice Test

ALAT - Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician Practice Test

ALAT Anesthesia and Analgesia in Laboratory Animals