QUESTIONS

1. What is the purpose of pre-operative assessment?
2. List useful equipment to have to hand during a pre-operative assessment.
3. Describe briefly what is meant by a high risk case.
4. List the details that must be known prior to admission of a patient.
5. It is a legal requirement that a consent form is signed prior to anaesthesia and/or surgery; who may sign this form?
6. When is the only time that anaesthesia and surgical procedures may be performed without the prior consent of the owner?
7. List the 5 major emergencies that would indicate the need for immediate anaesthesia in order to perform surgery without regard to the condition of the patient.
8. What considerations might affect the choice of drugs and dosage for premedication and anaesthesia?
9. List visual observations that are helpful in the assessment of a patient prior to anaesthesia and explain their significance.
10. Palpation is very useful in pre-operative examinations; list areas that are commonly assessed by palpation.
11. Define percussion and auscultation and explain why these techniques are an important part of a pre-operative examination.
12. List cardiovascular and respiratory conditions that may be detected by percussion and auscultation.
13. Why does acquired heart disease represent more of a risk to anaesthesia than congenital heart disease?
14. In addition to pre-operative haematology and biochemistry blood profiles, what other diagnostic techniques may provide the veterinary surgeon with important information?
15. Explain why an animal suffering hypoalbuminaemia is a high risk case.
16. Why are diabetic patients considered high risk anaesthetic cases?
17. Why might anaemia prove to be a problem in an anaesthetised patient?
18. Why are polycythaemic patients high risk?
19. Why do pyrexic animals require particular care during anaesthesia?
20. List 6 drug categories that may produce undesirable side-effects following interaction with anaesthetic drugs.
21. Why should a patient be starved pre-operatively, and under what circumstances might the usual recommendations be adjusted?
22. If an animal has eaten a large meal pre-operatively, what could be done to reduce the risks associated with anaesthesia and a full stomach?
23. Hypovolaemia and dehydration are serious risk factors to anasethesia; explain their significance.
24. Define polydipsia and polyuria and explain their significance in an animal due to be anaesthetised.
25. Finally, list 10 signs of shock.