Pharmacology CST
Exam Review
Questions and
Complete Solutions
Graded A+
Denning [Date] [Course title]
,Local anesthesia - Answer: involves injection of a nerve conduction-blocking agent into the tissues
surrounding a peripheral nerve or nerves that serve only tissue at the surgical site onset happens
between 5-15 minutes
Topical anesthesia - Answer: involves the placement of a nerve conduction blocking agent onto the skin
or mucous membrane, i.e. cocaine HCL, onset is rapid
Monitored Anesthesia Care - Answer: combination of nerve conduction blockade supplemented with
analgesics, sedatives, amnesics, used for patients with complex medical problems
Regional anesthesia - Answer: involves the administration of an anesthetic along a major nerve tract,
blocks all nerve impulse conduction distal to the injection site, onset is slower than local
Nerve plexus block - Answer: regional, agent is injected in the tissues surrounding a major nerve plexus
such as the brachial, cervical, caudal and lumbar
Spinal block - Answer: regional, agent is injected into the CSF withing the subarachnoid space
Epidural block - Answer: regional, Agent is injected into the space above the dura
Bier block - Answer: regional, agent is injected into a vein in the arm that has been drained of blood
following placement of a tourniquet
General anesthesia - Answer: involves an alteration in patients' perception of their environment
through alterations in their level of consciousness, accomplished by inhalation, injection, instillation
What is stages/planes? - Answer: Animals pass through a series of anesthetic stages and planes, These
stages correspond to changes in anesthetic depth, As animal passes through each stage, there is a
progressive loss of pain perception, motor coordination, consciousness, reflexes, muscle tone and
eventually cardiopulmonary function
, Stage 1 - Answer: Immediately after inhalation or injectable agent administered, Patient conscious but
disoriented, Decreased sensitivity to pain, All reflexes present, Patient may struggle, urinate, defecate or
show other signs of fear or anxiety
Stage 2 - Answer: Begins with loss of consciousness, All reflexes present (may appear exaggerated),
Animal can chew and swallow (may yawn), Brain starts to lose control of voluntary body functions,
Animal may exhibit involuntary excitement: rapid limb movement, vocalization, struggling, Breathing
may be irregular or animal may appear to hold its breath, Potentially unpleasant for patient and
hazardous to staff, Epinephrine release, cardiac arrhythmias & arrest, Important to ensure smooth
passage to Stage III
Stage 3 - Answer: Subdivided into 4 planes - each indicates increasing anesthetic depth, Different
between animals, Remember effects of each drug when assessing depth of anesthesia,With certain
drugs, some reflexes are not lost
Plane 1 - Answer: Light plane of anesthesia, Respiratory pattern becomes regular, Limb movements
cease, Eyeballs begin to rotate ventrally, Gag and swallow reflexes depressed (intubation), Pedal and
palpebral reflexes present but weaker
Plane 2 - Answer: Medium plane of anesthesia (suitable for most surgical procedures), Eyeballs rotate
ventromedially, Respiration regular but shallow, RR, HR and BP decreased, Pedal and swallowing
reflexes lost, Laryngeal and palpebral reflexes are weakened or lost
Plane 3 - Answer: Deep plane of anesthesia,HR, BP, and RR decrease; increase in CRT, Eyeball position -
central
Plane 4 - Answer: Early anesthetic overdose, Marked drop in HR & BP, CRT is prolonged; Abdominal
breathing (inadequate ventilation),Pupils dilate; pupillary light reflex (PLR) is lost, Too deep an
anesthetic plane; animal in risk of cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA)
Stage 4 - Answer: Respiration ceases Cardiac arrest Death Resuscitation of patient required
Induction Phase - Answer: involves altering the patient's level of consciousness from a conscious state
to the unconscious state, can be carried out through IV induction agent or inhalation of gaseous vapors,
management and maintenance of the patients airway is critical