Anaesthesia for minor procedures Flashcards
What is an analgesic?
A drug which reduces perception of pain (not an anaesthetic).
What are the components of the anaesthetic triad?
Unconciousness
Analgesia
Muscle relaxation
What percentage of oxygen is required during anaesthesia to prevent hypoxia?
30-40%
What details of the animals are required before administering anaesthesia?
The weight of the animals (shows if they have lost weight after the procedure, not to calculate dosage)
Date they arrived (at least 7, preferrably 14 days)
Strain/genotype
Clinical examination results, health screens, blood samples
What should the flow rate into an anaesthetic chamber be?
10-50ml/min
What are some ways of reducing side effects of anaesthesia in animals?
Combining techniques (using lower doses of both)
Addition of local anaesthetics or analgesics
What must be done to the animal when anaesthesia is complete?
Wait until the animal regains its reflex, and then return it to a warmed incubator/recovery box
What factors need to be monitored during anaesthesia?
Depth of anaesthesia
Respiratory function
Cardiovascular function
Body temperature
How is depth of anaesthesia assessed?
A noxious stimulus may be applied (stimulus that would be painful if the animal were conscious) e.g. pinch between toes and check for pedal withdrawal reflex
May be able to observe blink response
How many breaths per min do rats and mice usually have?
Mice - 200-300 (?)
Rats - 80-100
How can body temperature be measured?
Using an oesophageal temperature probe (use heat pads)
What does a pulse oximeter measure?
Haemoglobin saturation and heart rate
What are the typical heart rates of rats and mice?
Mice - 450-650
Rat - 350-400
How many degrees of heat loss is considered hypothermia in mice, and how quickly can it develop?
Loss of 2-5C within 5-10 minutes
How could you tell if a mouse is lacking oxygen saturation (aside from pulse oximeter)?
They may develop a bluish tinge on the nose and mucus membranes