Clincal Jargon

Question 1

The rebreathing bag on the anesthetic machine was squeezed to inflate the animal’s lungs during anesthesia

“The animal was bagged.”

Answer 1

bag

Question 2

“The leg was blocked.”

Local anesthesia was produced at specific site, locally or regionally.

Answer 2

block

Question 3

“A bolus of thiobarbiturate was administered.”

A specific quantity of drug was rapidly administered intravenously.

Answer 3

bolus

Question 4

“The animal was breathed six times a minute.”

The lungs were either manually or mechanically inflated.

Answer 4

breathed

Question 5

“The animal was crashed induced.”

Anesthesia was rapidly introduced using intravenous technique, although inhalation anesthetics (mask induced) can also be rapidly induced.

Answer 5

crash / crashed

Question 6

“The animal is in deep stage of anesthesia.”

The anesthetic drug produced maximal CNS depression. The greater the degree of CNS depression, the deeper the anesthesia.

This term is used in contrast to the term light, which implies minimal CNS depression. Animals that are “light” demonstrate active corneal and palpebral reflexes, may develop nystagmus and occasionally lift their heads or move a limb.

Answer 6

deep

Question 7

“The animal was knocked down or put down.”

The animal was given a drug or a combination of drugs that produced recumbency. The term is also used to denote euthanasia.

Answer 7

down

Question 8

“The animal was dropped.”

The animal received drugs that produce recumbency.

Answer 8

dropped

Question 9

“The animal was extubated.”

The endotracheal tube was removed from the
airway. The term is the opposite of intubated.

Answer 9

extubated

Question 10

“I hit or stick a vein on the first attempt.”

A successful venipuncture was performed.

Answer 10

hit / stick a vein

Question 11

“The animal was induced.”

The animal was given a drug or group of drugs that produced anesthesia.

Answer 11

induced

Question 12

“The animal was intubated.”

An endotracheal tube was placed through the nose or mouth into the trachea.

Answer 12

intubated

Question 13

“The animal was mask induced.”

A face mask was used to produce anesthesia. Because face masks are used to supply the gaseous or volatile anesthetics, the term also implies that an inhalation anesthetic was used.

Answer 13

mask induced

Question 14

“A pre- or post-anesthetic was administered.”

Anything administered or done before anesthesia is considered to be in the preanesthetic period. Occurrences following the discontinuation of anesthetic drugs are considered.

Answer 14

pre / post

Question 15

“The thiobarbiturate was pushed.”

An IV drug or fluid was administered either rapidly or in amounts greater than usually given.

Answer 15

pushed

Question 16

“I ran a strip on that animal.”

An electrocardiogram was obtained.

Answer 16

ran a strip

Question 17

“The animal was reversed.”

A drug’s effects were antagonized by administering a specific antagonist. For example, the opioid antagonist naloxone can be administered to reverse the effects of morphine.

Answer 17

reversed

Question 18

“The animal spiked a fever.”
“The fluids were spiked with potassium.”

Depending on the clinical situation, it may mean that a sudden rapid increase or that some substance (K+) or drug was added to a solution.

Answer 18

spiked

Question 19

“The animal is stable.”
“The animal has been stabilized.”

Cardiopulmonary variables or the depth of anesthesia has been returned to or is within acceptable limits.

Answer 19

stabilized

Question 20

“The animal was topped-off with a thiobarbiturate.”

An additional drug was administered to produce the desired effect. The term implies that the original calculated dosage was insufficient to produce the desired effect.

Answer 20

topped-off

Question 21

“The animal was tubed.”

An endotracheal tube was placed through the nose or mouth into the trachea (see also intubated).

Answer 21

tubed