Anesthesia and euthanasia guidelines MCQs With Answer

Anesthesia and euthanasia guidelines MCQs With Answer

This question set is designed for M.Pharm students studying research methodology and biostatistics, focusing on anesthesia and euthanasia guidelines for laboratory animals. The questions cover principles, regulatory frameworks, humane endpoints, anesthetic techniques, monitoring, analgesia, and accepted euthanasia methods. Emphasis is placed on ethical responsibilities, documentation, and species-specific considerations to ensure humane treatment during experiments. These MCQs will help you consolidate knowledge required for protocol design, institutional committee submissions, and safe conduct of animal studies, preparing you for both exams and practical decision-making in laboratory animal care and research compliance.

Q1. What is the primary ethical purpose of euthanasia in laboratory animal research?

• To avoid the cost of long-term animal care
• To humanely end an animal’s life to prevent unnecessary pain and distress
• To improve experimental variability by removing outliers
• To comply with veterinary training requirements

Correct Answer: To humanely end an animal’s life to prevent unnecessary pain and distress

Q2. Which regulatory body in India issues guidelines for the care and use of laboratory animals including anesthesia and euthanasia?

• FDA (Food and Drug Administration)
• IACUC (Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee)
• CPCSEA (Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals)
• WHO (World Health Organization)

Correct Answer: CPCSEA (Committee for the Purpose of Control and Supervision of Experiments on Animals)

Q3. Which triad best describes the components of surgical anesthesia?

• Hyperactivity, analgesia, reflex suppression
• Unconsciousness, analgesia, muscle relaxation
• Anxiolysis, tachycardia, hyperthermia
• Immobility, hyperesthesia, dysphoria

Correct Answer: Unconsciousness, analgesia, muscle relaxation

Q4. Which of the following is considered a commonly accepted injectable agent for euthanasia in many mammalian laboratory species?

• Isoflurane inhalation at 1% concentration
• Intravenous overdose of pentobarbital
• Intramuscular saline injection
• Subcutaneous buprenorphine

Correct Answer: Intravenous overdose of pentobarbital

Q5. For short non-painful procedures in rodents, which anesthetic approach is generally preferred because of rapid induction and recovery?

• Long-acting injectable barbiturates
• Inhalational anesthesia using isoflurane or sevoflurane
• High-dose opioids alone
• Local anesthetic only

Correct Answer: Inhalational anesthesia using isoflurane or sevoflurane

Q6. Which monitoring sign is most reliable for assessing depth of anesthesia in small laboratory animals?

• Tail flick response only
• Reflexes (pedal withdrawal, palpebral), respiratory rate and pattern, heart rate and mucous membrane color
• Fur appearance and body weight
• Tail temperature alone

Correct Answer: Reflexes (pedal withdrawal, palpebral), respiratory rate and pattern, heart rate and mucous membrane color

Q7. Which statement about pre-anesthetic fasting in rodents is correct?

• Rodents should be fasted 12–24 hours before anesthesia to prevent aspiration
• Pre-anesthetic fasting is not generally required or should be minimal to prevent hypoglycemia
• Rodents should be denied water for 48 hours before anesthesia
• Fasting is mandatory for all laboratory species regardless of size

Correct Answer: Pre-anesthetic fasting is not generally required or should be minimal to prevent hypoglycemia

Q8. Which of the following is an example of multimodal analgesia?

• Giving only one high-dose opioid
• Combining an NSAID with an opioid and local anesthetic when appropriate
• Using only inhalational anesthetic without analgesics
• Relying solely on postoperative restraint to reduce pain

Correct Answer: Combining an NSAID with an opioid and local anesthetic when appropriate

Q9. According to standard guidelines, which method requires special justification and typically additional restraint or anesthesia before use in conscious animals?

• Isoflurane anesthesia
• Cervical dislocation performed by trained personnel
• Decapitation without prior anesthesia in conscious animals
• Administration of analgesics

Correct Answer: Decapitation without prior anesthesia in conscious animals

Q10. Which is the appropriate immediate action if an anesthetized animal develops apnea during a procedure?

• Leave the animal and continue the procedure
• Check airway and ventilation, provide positive pressure ventilation if needed, and assess reversible causes
• Increase anesthetic depth
• Administer extra analgesic only

Correct Answer: Check airway and ventilation, provide positive pressure ventilation if needed, and assess reversible causes

Q11. Which recordkeeping item is essential after performing anesthesia and euthanasia on laboratory animals?

• Only the animal’s age
• Drug names, doses, routes, times, monitoring observations, and method of euthanasia
• Only the experimenter’s name
• Only the experiment’s final results

Correct Answer: Drug names, doses, routes, times, monitoring observations, and method of euthanasia

Q12. Which of the following best describes a humane endpoint?

• A time when researchers can stop recording data
• The earliest indicator of pain, distress, or disease at which an animal is euthanized or treatment is given to prevent further suffering
• The moment the experimenter decides the data are sufficient
• A point to increase experimental stress to observe outcomes

Correct Answer: The earliest indicator of pain, distress, or disease at which an animal is euthanized or treatment is given to prevent further suffering

Q13. Which analgesic class is commonly used for managing moderate to severe postoperative pain in laboratory animals?

• Antihistamines
• Opioids (e.g., buprenorphine, morphine)
• Local anesthetics only
• Antibiotics

Correct Answer: Opioids (e.g., buprenorphine, morphine)

Q14. What is the recommended way to confirm death after euthanasia procedures?

• Waiting 30 seconds and assuming death
• Assessment of absence of heartbeat, respiration, corneal reflex, and fixed dilated pupils, and where possible auscultation or secondary methods (e.g., exsanguination after unconsciousness) per guidelines
• Observing animal for one breath only
• Relying on the dose administered as sole evidence

Correct Answer: Assessment of absence of heartbeat, respiration, corneal reflex, and fixed dilated pupils, and where possible auscultation or secondary methods (e.g., exsanguination after unconsciousness) per guidelines

Q15. Which inhalational anesthetic is most commonly used in rodents for induction and maintenance because of rapid onset and recovery?

• Hexobarbital
• Isoflurane
• Procaine
• Ketorolac

Correct Answer: Isoflurane

Q16. Why is hypothermia a critical concern during and after anesthesia in small animals?

• It has no effect on recovery or drug metabolism
• Hypothermia can prolong anesthetic recovery, depress cardiovascular/respiratory function, and alter drug metabolism
• It improves analgesic efficacy
• It reduces the need for monitoring

Correct Answer: Hypothermia can prolong anesthetic recovery, depress cardiovascular/respiratory function, and alter drug metabolism

Q17. Which statement concerning the use of CO2 for euthanasia of rodents is most accurate according to major guidelines?

• CO2 is always unacceptable under any circumstances
• CO2 can be acceptable if delivered gradually and used according to species-specific guidelines to minimize distress
• CO2 should be used at maximum concentration immediately without consideration
• CO2 induces anesthesia without any aversive responses in all species

Correct Answer: CO2 can be acceptable if delivered gradually and used according to species-specific guidelines to minimize distress

Q18. Which factor is most important when selecting an anesthetic protocol for a given experiment?

• Only the cheapest available drugs
• Experimental objectives, species-specific physiology, expected pain level, and potential interactions with study outcomes
• The color of the drug vial
• Whether the investigator personally prefers injections over inhalation

Correct Answer: Experimental objectives, species-specific physiology, expected pain level, and potential interactions with study outcomes

Q19. Which practice enhances animal welfare when performing potentially painful procedures?

• Providing analgesia only if the animal shows severe signs of pain
• Implementing perioperative analgesia, environmental enrichment, and minimizing procedure duration
• Delaying pain control to the postoperative period only
• Using only sedatives without analgesics

Correct Answer: Implementing perioperative analgesia, environmental enrichment, and minimizing procedure duration

Q20. Which institutional committee is typically responsible for reviewing and approving anesthesia and euthanasia procedures in a research institution?

• Finance Committee
• Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or equivalent
• Human Ethics Committee
• Marketing Department

Correct Answer: Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee (IACUC) or equivalent

Download