VTNE Plan

Anesthesia: practice questions

2 original questions · 2 editor-approved · every choice explained.

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Blueprint-mapped questions with full rationales for every choice.

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AnesthesiaDifficulty 3/5

Under isoflurane, a patient's mean arterial pressure falls to 55 mmHg. What is the first intervention?

  1. AAdminister an anticholinergic to raise heart rate and blood pressure
  2. BGive a bolus of colloid immediately to expand the circulating volume
  3. CIncrease the oxygen flow rate to improve tissue oxygen delivery
  4. DReduce the vaporiser setting, since inhalant depth is the usual cause
Show answer and rationale

Correct: D. Inhalant-induced vasodilation and myocardial depression is the most common cause of intra-operative hypotension. Reducing depth is the first and most reversible correction; fluids and drugs follow under veterinary direction.

  • C — Oxygen flow does not affect blood pressure.
  • A — Anticholinergics address bradycardia specifically, which was not described.
  • B — Colloid administration is a veterinary decision after depth is addressed.
AnesthesiaDifficulty 3/5

When is extubation usually appropriate in a cat compared with a dog?

  1. AEarlier in cats than dogs, to reduce the risk of laryngospasm
  2. BAt the same point in both species, once the reflex has fully returned
  3. COnly after the patient is standing, regardless of the species involved
  4. DLater in cats than dogs, once a strong swallowing reflex has returned
Show answer and rationale

Correct: A. Cats are prone to laryngospasm, so extubation is performed earlier than in dogs — typically at the first sign of returning swallowing or ear-flick — while dogs are extubated once swallowing is established.

  • D — Waiting for a strong reflex in a cat increases laryngospasm risk.
  • B — The species differ specifically on this point.
  • C — Waiting until standing is unnecessary and unsafe in cats.

Primary references

  1. VTNE Candidate Information Handbook — American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) · primary · retrieved 2026-09-22, verified 2026-09-22