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Objectives: To document a technique for one-lung ventilation (OLV) in cats and evaluate the effect of low-pressure carbon dioxide insufflation and OLV (OLV-CDI) on cardiorespiratory variables in cats., Study Design: Prospective randomized study., Animals: Cats (n = 6)., Methods: General anesthesia was induced using a standardized anesthetic protocol. A thermodilution catheter was placed into the pulmonary artery using fluoroscopic guidance. Two 6 mm thoracoscopic cannulae were placed at a subxiphoid and intercostal location, respectively, to allow direct observation of all lung lobes. OLV was induced using an endobronchial blocker, which was placed into the right and left main stem bronchi in randomized order using bronchoscopic guidance. Cardiorespiratory variables were measured at 5 and 30 minutes after induction of OLV and subsequently at 5 and 30 minutes after initiation of OLV-CDI at intra-thoracic pressures of 3 mmHg., Results: Left-sided OLV was successful in 5 cats, right-sided OLV was successful in 2 cats, and neither was successful in 1 cat. No significant effects on hemodynamic variables or oxygen delivery were observed after right or left-sided OLV alone. Hemodynamic variables were also well-preserved after OLV-CDI; however, oxygen delivery was significantly lower after left OLV-CDI compared with right OLV-CDI, and in 2 cats, severe desaturation occurred after L-OLV-CDI before the 30 minute time point., Conclusions: OLV can be used in cats for thoracoscopic interventions. Although right OLV-CDI was tolerated better than left OLV-CDI, the technique requires further investigation before it can be recommended for widespread clinical use., (© Copyright 2014 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.)

Objective: To evaluate the effect of pneumoperitoneum on cardiorespiratory variables and working space during experimental induction of 3 intra-abdominal pressures (IAPs) in cats., Animals: 6 healthy young adult neutered male domestic shorthair cats., Procedures: All cats were anesthetized through use of a standardized protocol. A catheter was placed in the right femoral artery for blood pressure and blood gas monitoring. A thermodilution catheter was placed in the right jugular vein via fluoroscopic guidance. Cardiopulmonary variables were measured before (baseline) and 2 and 30 minutes after initiation of pneumoperitoneum at IAPs of 4, 8, and 15 mm Hg; these were created through the use of a mechanical insufflator. At each IAP, abdominal dimensions (height, width, and circumference) were measured at a standardized location., Results: At 4 mm Hg and 8 mm Hg IAP, no clinically important changes were identified in cardiorespiratory values. Heart rate, cardiac index, and stroke volume index remained unchanged throughout the study at all IAPs. Mean arterial blood pressure began to increase at 8 mm Hg and was significantly higher, compared with baseline, at both time points at 15 mm Hg. At 15 mm Hg, Paco2 was significantly higher and cats were more acidotic than at baseline. Working space was subjectively greater at 8 mm Hg than at 4 mm Hg IAP; however, at 15 mm Hg, no clinically important enlargement of the working space was identified, compared with at 8 mm Hg., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Values of cardiopulmonary variables were largely unchanged by induction of pneumoperitoneum in healthy cats up to an IAP of 8 mm Hg, and no clinically important increases in working space were evident at an IAP of 15 versus 8 mm Hg. These findings provide little justification for use of IAPs > 8 mm Hg in healthy cats undergoing laparoscopic procedures; however, whether the situation is similar in diseased or elderly cats remains to be determined.

Objective: To determine the minimum infusion rate (MIR50) for propofol alone and in combination with ketamine required to attenuate reflexes commonly used in the assessment of anesthetic depth in cats., Animals: 6 cats., Procedure: Propofol infusion started at 0.05 to 0.1 mg/kg/min for propofol alone or 0.025 mg/kg/min for propofol and ketamine (low-dose ILD] constant rate infusion [CRI] of 23 microg/kg/min or high-dose [HD] CRI of 46 microg/kg/min), and after 15 minutes, responses of different reflexes were tested. Following a response, the propofol dose was increased by 0.05 mg/kg/min for propofol alone or 0.025 mg/kg/min for propofol and ketamine, and after 15 minutes, reflexes were retested., Results: The MIR50 for propofol alone required to attenuate blinking in response to touching the medial canthus or eyelashes; swallowing in response to placement of a finger or laryngoscope in the pharynx; and to toe pinch, tetanus, and tail-clamp stimuli were determined. Addition of LD ketamine to propofol significantly decreased MIR50, compared with propofol alone, for medial canthus, eyelash, finger, toe pinch, and tetanus stimuli but did not change those for laryngoscope or tail-clamp stimuli. Addition of HD ketamine to propofol significantly decreased MIR50, compared with propofol alone, for medial canthus, eyelash, toe pinch, tetanus, and tail-clamp stimuli but did not change finger or laryngoscope responses., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Propofol alone or combined with ketamine may be used for total IV anesthesia in healthy cats at the infusion rates determined in this study for attenuation of specific reflex activity.

Objective: To determine induction doses, anesthetic constant rate infusions (CRI), and cardiopulmonary effects of propofol in red-tailed hawks and great horned owls and propofol pharmacokinetics in the owls during CRI., Animals: 6 red-tailed hawks and 6 great horned owls., Procedure: The CRI dose necessary for a loss of withdrawal reflex was determined via specific stimuli. Anesthesia was induced by IV administration of propofol (1 mg/kg/min) and maintained by CRI at the predetermined dose for 30 minutes. Heart and respiratory rates, arterial blood pressures, and blood gas tensions were obtained in awake birds and at various times after induction. End-tidal CO2 (ETCO2) concentration and esophageal temperature were obtained after induction. Propofol plasma concentrations were obtained after induction and after completion of the CRI in the owls. Recovery times were recorded., Results: Mean +/- SD doses for induction and CRI were 4.48 +/- 1.09 mg/kg and 0.48 +/- 0.06 mg/kg/min, respectively, for hawks and 3.36 +/- 0.71 mg/kg and 0.56 +/- 0.15 mg/kg/min, respectively, for owls. Significant increases in PaCO2, HCO3, and ETCO2 in hawks and owls and significant decreases in arterial pH in hawks were detected. A 2-compartment model best described the owl pharmacodynamic data. Recovery times after infusion were prolonged and varied widely. Central nervous system excitatory signs were observed during recovery., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Effects on blood pressure were minimal, but effective ventilation was reduced, suggesting the need for careful monitoring during anesthesia. Prolonged recovery periods with moderate-to-severe excitatory CNS signs may occur in these species at these doses.

Pulmonary hypertension may result from an increase in vascular resistance caused by persistent hypoxia. We have investigated the effects of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), administered into the pulmonary artery, on haemodynamic changes occurring in anaesthetized adult dogs subjected to acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Hypoxia alone (ventilation with 10% O2/90% N2) caused significant increases in mean pulmonary arterial blood pressure (PAP), central venous pressure (CVP), and cardiac index (CI) by 71, 102 and 38%, respectively. ATP (0.03-3.0 micromol/kg/min approximately 0.02-1.65 mg/kg/min), when infused under hypoxic conditions, significantly reduced both mean PAP and systemic arterial blood pressure (ABP) in a dose-dependent manner. The maximum decrease in mean PAP amounted to 20%; mean ABP, on the other hand, was decreased by up to 52% (P<0.01). Heart rate, CI, CVP and pulmonary occlusion pressure were not dose-dependently affected by ATP. Our data indicate that while pulmonary arterial administration of ATP in mature dogs during hypoxic pulmonary hypertension causes dilation in the pulmonary vascular bed, it is even more effective in dilating the systemic vasculature. This result suggests a need for further evaluation and warrants cautious use of ATP in the treatment of hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in adult dogs.

Objective: To evaluate selected hemodynamic, respiratory, and behavioral responses to propofol in horses premedicated with xylazine or detomidine., Design: Xylazine (0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg of body weight) was administered IV on different days to each of 6 horses prior to IV administration of propofol (2 mg/kg). In a second group of 6 horses, detomidine (15 and 30 micrograms/kg) was similarly studied., Animals: 2 groups of 6 mature healthy horses., Procedure: Rectal temperature, heart and respiratory rates, arterial blood gas tensions, and direct arterial blood pressures were recorded before and at fixed intervals after drug administration. Induction and recovery events were quantitatively and qualitatively assessed. Cardiopulmonary and behavioral data to follow were statistically analyzed (P < or = 0.05)., Results: Heart rate decreased in dose-dependent manner from a mean (+/- SD) of 39.5 +/- 5.1 beats/min after xylazine and detomidine. Second-degree atrioventricular dissociation was commonly seen at the higher drug doses. After propofol administration, heart rate either transiently increased or was less depressed early in recumbency, compared with predrug values. Direct arterial blood pressures varied inconsistently from predrug values. Mean arterial carbon dioxide tension tended to increase after drug administration (significance variable) from predrug values of 42 to 46 mm of Hg in both drug groups. After xylazine or detomidine administration, arterial oxygen tension decreased significantly from predrug values of 97 to 103 mm of Hg. The magnitude and duration of decrease was dose-dependent and greatest during recumbency. Behavioral responses to anesthetic induction were variable, but horses were uniformly calm and coordinated during recovery. Recumbency time increased in response to the higher dose of either premedicant drug. Mean (+/- SD) times to standing were 25.02 +/- 4.42 and 35.57 +/- 6.83 minutes for the low and high doses of xylazine, respectively and 41.04 +/- 11.21 and 52.64 +/- 14.67 minutes for the low and high doses of detomidine, respectively., Conclusion: Neither xylazine nor detomidine prevented excitation associated with propofol injection in horses., Clinical Relevance: Xylazine or detomidine-propofol combinations likely will not replace common anesthetic induction techniques for horses. However, recovery characteristics associated with propofol encourage further study in horses.

Cardiopulmonary effects of propofol were studied in hypovolemic dogs from completion of, until 1 hour after administration. Hypovolemia was induced by withdrawal of blood from dogs until mean arterial pressure of 60 mm of Hg was achieved. After stabilization at this pressure for 1 hour, 6 mg of propofol/kg of body weight was administered IV to 7 dogs, and cardiopulmonary effects were measured. After blood withdrawal and prior to propofol administration, oxygen utilization ratio increased, whereas mean arterial pressure, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary capillary wedge pressure, cardiac index, oxygen delivery, mixed venous oxygen tension, and mixed venous oxygen content decreased from baseline. Three minutes after propofol administration, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, oxygen utilization ratio, venous admixture, and arterial and mixed venous carbon dioxide tensions increased, whereas mean arterial pressure, arterial oxygen tension, mixed venous oxygen content, arterial and mixed venous pH decreased from values measured prior to propofol administration. Fifteen minutes after propofol administration, mixed venous carbon dioxide tension was still increased; however by 30 minutes after propofol administration, all measurements had returned to values similar to those measured prior to propofol administration.

The effects of a halothane/oxygen combination on the cardiopulmonary function of 11 healthy cats were studied. Test parameters included cardiac output, measured via thermo-dilution, heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood pressure (systolic, diastolic and mean) and blood gas analysis. Values for systemic vascular resistance, cardiac index and stroke volume were calculated from these data. Cardiac output, cardiac index, heart rate, stroke volume, arterial blood pressure (systolic, diastolic and mean) and arterial blood pH were significantly decreased (p less than 0.001). Respiratory rate was also significantly decreased (p less than 0.007) with arterial CO2 tension being significantly increased (p less than 0.001). Statistically significant changes, where seen, persisted for the duration of the anesthetic period. Arterial O2 tension and systemic vascular resistance remained unchanged. All parameters returned to near pretest values within 30 minutes following cessation of halothane anesthesia.

The effect of a ketamine hydrochloride/acepromazine combination on the cardiopulmonary function of 11 healthy cats was studied. Test parameters included cardiac output, measured by thermodilution, heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial blood pressure (systolic, diastolic and mean) and arterial blood gas analysis. Values for systemic vascular resistance, cardiac index and stroke volume were calculated. The cardiac output, cardiac index, stroke volume, arterial blood pressure and arterial blood pH decreased significantly (p less than 0.006). The arterial CO2 increased significantly (p less than 0.006). All changes occurred during the five to 45 minute postinduction time period. The heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial O2 and systemic vascular resistance were not significantly altered. The anesthetic regime maintained an adequate plane of surgical anesthesia for 30-45 minutes.

The effects of saffan on cardiopulmonary function were evaluated in eight healthy adult cats. Measured values were cardiac output by thermodilution, heart rate by electrocardiogram, arterial blood gases, respiratory rate and systolic, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressures by arterial catheterization. Calculated values included cardiac index, stroke volume and systemic vascular resistance. Statistical analysis employed paired t-tests comparing pre saffan anesthetic induction and post saffan anesthetic parameters over a 120 minute time sequence. Thirty min after saffan induction, significant depression in cardiac output was evident while stroke volume was significantly depressed at 45 and 60 min, systolic blood pressure at 15 min and respiratory rate at 5, 10 and 15 min. No significant changes occurred in cardiac index, heart rate, arterial blood gases, diastolic and mean arterial blood pressure or systemic vascular resistance. It was concluded that saffan causes significant depression of cardiopulmonary function in normal adult cats.