Pre-Anaesthetic Assessment

Question 1

What are the 6 components of the pre-anaesthetic period?

Answer 1

1. period of fasting
2. Assessment of patient history and thorough physical examination
3. Selection of relevant diagnostic procedures
4. Selection of anaesthetic protocol
5. Other pre-anaesthetic procedures as recommended by veterinary surgeon
6. Preparation of other anaesthetic equipment, drugs and surgical equipment

Question 2

What is the purpose of fasting?

Answer 2

Prevent vomiting / regurgitation during the procedure or recovery
Reduce the risk of aspiration pneumonia

Question 3

What animals should not be fasted or have a reduced fast time

Answer 3

short fast for juveniles
do not fast mammals that cannot regurgitate
Various reptile species
Animals that continuously graze e.g. rabbits (also dont vomit)

Question 4

What do you do if an animal has not fasted

Answer 4

Postpone surgery or administer drugs to induce vomiting

Question 5

Give four questions that you should ask an owner for patient history

Answer 5

Confirm ID 
Breed, age, sex 
Owner details 
Any anaesthetic history 
Recent health
Health status over last few months 
Vaccination status 
Reproductive status 
Have they been fasted?
On any meds
last dose? 
temperment?

Question 6

What things should be focused on during the pre-anaesthetic exam

Answer 6

TPR 
CNS 
CVS 
Respiratory 
hepatic 
Renal 
Haematological 
Specific pre-neutering checks - double check sex and presence of testis

Question 7

What is the ASA Risk Categories?

Answer 7

Created by anaesthesiologists
Class 1 - 5
Level of risk assigned according to patient status

Question 8

What is class I - V

Answer 8

I - minimal risk 
II - Slight risk 
III - Moderate risk 
IV- High risk 
V - Grave/extreme risk

Question 9

What kind of consent must you get from a client

Answer 9

INFORMED consent

Question 10

What should be on the consent form?

Answer 10

Name, address and telephone number of practice
Name and address of owner
Contact telephone number(s) – as many as possible up to date and correct
Pets details – name, breed, age, sex, markings, neuter status, weight
Any relevant history eg. Drug reactions
Details of procedure – worded so the owner can understand, estimate of cost may be included
Owner or authorised person must sign – over 16/18

Question 11

How would a pre-general anaesthetic diagnositc be decided and any extended diagnostics

Answer 11

• standard for all patients
• offered for all
• geriatrics
• dependent on animals individual health status
• potential extended diagnostic undertaken

Question 12

What does haematology look at

Answer 12

PCV
RBC count
WBC count

Question 13

What does biochemistry look at?

Answer 13

• Total Protein
• Glucose
• ALT/ ALKP
• Urea / creatinine /phosphorus
• Electrolytes (NA and K)

Question 14

What other diagnostics may be used?

Answer 14

Urinalysis 
ECG 
Blood gases 
Radiography 
Clotting profiles