DVM Anesthesia and Surgical Principles 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which anesthetic drug causes a dose-dependent decrease in intracranial pressure and is preferred in patients with head trauma?
- Ketamine
- Propofol (Correct answer)
- Tiletamine
- Methohexital
Correct answer: Propofol
Propofol decreases cerebral metabolic rate and ICP, making it preferred for induction in patients with head trauma or elevated intracranial pressure.
Question 2: The Pringle maneuver, used during hepatic surgery in large animals and dogs, involves:
- Ligation of the hepatic veins before parenchymal transection
- Digital occlusion of the hepatoduodenal ligament to reduce portal and hepatic arterial flow (Correct answer)
- Packing the hepatic sinuses with oxidized cellulose
- Clamping the caudal vena cava above the liver
Correct answer: Digital occlusion of the hepatoduodenal ligament to reduce portal and hepatic arterial flow
The Pringle maneuver occludes the hepatoduodenal ligament (containing the portal vein and hepatic artery) to reduce hepatic inflow and minimize hemorrhage during liver surgery.
Question 3: A ferret presents for adrenalectomy. Which anesthetic concern is most critical given common ferret endocrine disease?
- Hyperthyroidism causing tachyarrhythmias
- Insulinoma-associated hypoglycemia requiring dextrose supplementation (Correct answer)
- Hyperparathyroidism causing cardiac calcification
- Diabetes insipidus requiring fluid restriction
Correct answer: Insulinoma-associated hypoglycemia requiring dextrose supplementation
Ferrets frequently have concurrent insulinoma, which can cause life-threatening hypoglycemia during the perioperative fast; blood glucose monitoring and dextrose supplementation are essential.
Question 4: Which hemostatic technique uses electrical current to coagulate vessels by converting electrical energy to heat?
- Laser photocoagulation
- Bipolar electrosurgery (Correct answer)
- Ligasure vessel sealing
- Ultrasonic dissection
Correct answer: Bipolar electrosurgery
Bipolar electrosurgery passes current between two forceps tips through tissue, generating heat that denatures protein and seals vessels with minimal lateral thermal spread.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes balanced anesthesia in veterinary patients?
- Using a single high-dose inhalant to achieve all anesthetic goals
- Combining multiple agents at lower doses to achieve hypnosis, analgesia, and muscle relaxation while minimizing side effects (Correct answer)
- Alternating between injectable and inhalant agents every 30 minutes
- Administering a benzodiazepine and opioid without any inhalant
Correct answer: Combining multiple agents at lower doses to achieve hypnosis, analgesia, and muscle relaxation while minimizing side effects
Balanced anesthesia uses multiple drug classes (e.g., opioids, sedatives, local anesthetics, inhalants) at individually lower doses to achieve all anesthetic components while reducing adverse effects of any single agent.
Question 6: During a celiotomy in a cow, rumenotomy is performed. Which anesthetic technique is most appropriate for a standing cow undergoing this procedure?
- Inhalant anesthesia with endotracheal intubation
- Total intravenous anesthesia with propofol CRI
- Paravertebral or proximal paravertebral nerve block combined with local infiltration (Correct answer)
- Epidural morphine alone
Correct answer: Paravertebral or proximal paravertebral nerve block combined with local infiltration
Standing flank surgery in cattle is routinely performed under paravertebral nerve block or inverted-L block with local infiltration, avoiding the risks of general anesthesia recumbency in ruminants.
Question 7: A dog receiving morphine via CRI develops pinpoint pupils, bradycardia, and respiratory depression. The first drug to administer is:
- Atipamezole
- Flumazenil
- Naloxone (Correct answer)
- Physostigmine
Correct answer: Naloxone
Naloxone is a pure opioid antagonist that rapidly reverses opioid-induced respiratory depression, miosis, and bradycardia.
DVM Anesthesia and Surgical Principles 4
Which anesthetic drug causes a dose-dependent decrease in intracranial pressure and is preferred in patients with head trauma?