Lab 7: Anaesthetics

Question 1

What are the three main types of anaesthetics?

Answer 1

Local, regional, and general.

Question 2

What are three techniques used for local anaesthetics?

Answer 2

Infiltration - injected into body tissue
Nerve block - injected near nerve
Epidural - injected into epidural space (close to spinal canal)

Question 3

What happens to body when general anaesthetics is used?

Answer 3

Unconscious, immobile, amnesic, unresponsive to pain, relaxed muscles.

Question 4

4 characteristics that affect anaesthetic choice?

Answer 4

weight, age, health status, gestation

Question 5

Pros and cons to injectable anaesthetics?

Answer 5

PROS: 1) no special equipment needed
2) easy to manage 
3) little risk to people
4) residual analgesics 
CONS: 1) depth cannot be controlled
2) during long procedures, the dosage must be repeated
3) longer recovery phase
4) variability between individuals being anaesthetised
5) changes to the animals' physiology
6) metabolism or excretion is required

Question 6

Pros and cons to inhalant anaesthetics?

Answer 6

PROS: 1) depth is controlled
2) for short/long/repeated procedures
3) short recovery phase
4) little metabolism is required which is safer for sick/debilitated/old or young animals
5) heart’s function affected to a minor degree
CONS: 1) special equipment is required
2) no residual analgesics (pain relievers)
3) must monitor depth of the anaesthetics closely to ensure the right amount is being used
4) risk for human inhalation