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OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of each of 3 incremental doses of MK-467 for alleviation of dexmedetomidine-induced hemodynamic depression in isoflurane-anesthetized cats. ANIMALS 6 healthy adult domestic shorthair cats. PROCEDURES Each cat was anesthetized with isoflurane and received a target-controlled infusion of dexmedetomidine estimated to maintain the plasma dexmedetomidine concentration at 10 ng/mL throughout the experiment. Heart rate (HR) and direct arterial pressures were measured at baseline (isoflurane administration only), during dexmedetomidine infusion, and before and after IV administration of each of 3 serially increasing doses (15, 30, and 60 μg/kg) of MK-467. Cardiac index (CI) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were recorded at baseline, during dexmedetomidine infusion, and at the mean arterial pressure nadir after administration of the 30- and 60-μg/kg doses of MK-467. RESULTS Compared with baseline values, the dexmedetomidine infusion significantly decreased HR and increased arterial pressures. Each dose of MK-467 caused a significant decrease in arterial pressures and a significant, albeit clinically irrelevant, increase in HR (≤ 10%). Following administration of the 30- and 60-μg/kg doses of MK-467, all cats developed clinical hypotension (mean arterial pressure, < 60 mm Hg) even though CI and SVR returned to baseline values. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated administration of small doses of MK-467 to isoflurane-anesthetized cats receiving dexmedetomidine restored CI and SVR, but caused a substantial decrease in arterial pressures and only a marginal increase in HR. Therefore, caution should be used when MK-467 is administered to alleviate dexmedetomidine-induced hemodynamic depression in isoflurane-anesthetized cats.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of 2 fractions of inspired oxygen (Fio 2 s) during anesthesia on postanesthesia Pao 2 and other measures of oxygen exchange. ANIMALS 22 healthy adult sexually intact female dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy by ventral midline celiotomy. PROCEDURES Dogs were randomly assigned to receive either oxygen (Fio 2 > 0.9 [100% oxygen]; n = 11; control group) or a mixture of nitrogen and oxygen (Fio 2 = 0.4; 11; 40% oxygen group) as the carrier gas for isoflurane while anesthetized. All dogs were allowed to breathe spontaneously while anesthetized. For each dog, the Pao 2 , Paco 2 , other indices of oxygenation, and extent of sedation were monitored at predetermined times during and for 1 hour after anesthesia. Measured variables were compared between the 2 treatment groups and over time within each treatment group. RESULTS None of the measured variables differed significantly between the control and 40% oxygen groups at any time during the postanesthesia period. Within each treatment group, the Paco 2 and extent of sedation decreased over time during the postanesthesia period. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that indices of oxygenation did not differ significantly between healthy dogs in which the Fio 2 was maintained at > 0.9 and those in which the Fio 2 was maintained at 0.4 while anesthetized for ovariohysterectomy. Thus, the addition of nitrogen to the carrier gas for an inhalant anesthetic conferred neither an advantage nor disadvantage in regard to oxygenation during the first hour of anesthesia recovery.

Objective: To evaluate the potency and duration of three subparalyzing doses of vecuronium (VEC) in isoflurane-anesthetized horses., Study Design: Prospective experimental study., Animals: Thirteen healthy adult horses undergoing arthroscopic surgery., Methods: During isoflurane anesthesia, horses received one of three doses of vecuronium (25, 50, or 100 μg kg(-1)). Neuromuscular transmission was monitored with acceleromyography (AMG) with train-of-four (TOF) stimulation of the radial nerve. Maximal depression of the first twitch (T1), and onset time were recorded for each dose. Recovery time to a TOF ratio >90% was also evaluated., Results: Vecuronium 25 μg kg(-1) produced no observable T1 depression in four horses. VEC 50 μg kg(-1) (n = 5) produced a maximal T1 depression of [median (min, max)] 41 (20, 71) % in four horses, and no neuromuscular block was seen in the fifth. VEC 100 μg kg(-1) was given to four horses and produced a T1 depression of 73 (64, 78) %. Of the four horses in which VEC 50 μg kg(-1) produced a measurable neuromuscular block, three recovered spontaneously 43 (40, 52) minutes after VEC administration; a fourth subject received edrophonium to reverse residual block at the end of the surgery. Spontaneous recovery after VEC 100 μg kg(-1) occurred by 112 minutes in one horse, and had to be facilitated by edrophonium in the remaining three horses, more than 2 hours after VEC had been given., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: A dose of 100 μg kg(-1) VEC in isoflurane anesthetized horses failed to produce complete paralysis. The partial neuromuscular block lasted at least 2 hours after this dose had been administered. Edrophonium was required to reverse the neuromuscular block in three of four horses. It is likely that more than 100 μg kg(-1) VEC would be necessary for complete neuromuscular blockade in horses, and that this dose will last >2 hours., (© 2012 The Authors. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. © 2012 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and the American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists.)

Objective: To determine the effects of adenosine infusion on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in dogs., Study Design: Prospective, randomized crossover study., Animals: Seven adult male and female Beagles weighing 10.9 (7.5, 13.6) kg [median (minimum, maximum)]., Methods: Each dog was anesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen and randomly assigned to receive either an intravenous (IV) adenosine (0.3 mg kg(-1) minute(-1)) or saline (6 mL kg(-1) hour(-1) IV) infusion. After an interval of 7 days or more, each dog was re-anesthetized and treated with the alternative infusion. Using a tail-clamp technique, MAC was determined before (pre-infusion), during (infusion), and 2 hours after the infusions (post-infusion)., Results: The pre-infusion MAC of isoflurane was 1.25 (1.15, 1.35) [median (minimum, maximum)] vol.% for the saline treatment group and 1.25 (1.05, 1.45) vol.% for the adenosine treatment group, and did not differ significantly between the two treatments. The infusion MAC values were not significantly different (p = 0.16) and were 1.25 (0.95, 1.35) vol.% and 1.05 (1.00, 1.25) vol.%, respectively. The post-infusion MAC values differed significantly (p = 0.016); MAC was 1.15 (1.15, 1.35) vol.% and 1.05 (1.05, 1.25) vol.% for the saline and adenosine treatment groups, respectively. During infusion, mean arterial blood pressure decreased significantly (p = 0.008) during adenosine treatment compared with the saline 66 mmHg (52, 72) and 91 mmHg (68, 110), respectively. End-tidal CO2 (Pe'CO2), urine production, hematocrit, and plasma total solids did not differ significantly between the two treatments at any time (all p > 0.05)., Conclusion: Although the MAC of isoflurane in dogs was not decreased significantly during infusion with adenosine (0.3 mg kg(-1) minute(-1)), it was significantly decreased post-infusion, but only by 0.1 vol.%, an amount not considered clinically important. Adenosine infusion decreased mean arterial pressure by 27% and did not adversely affect renal function.

Objective To assess whether recovery from general anesthesia, in an illuminated or a darkened stall, has an effect on time to first movement, time to standing, and recovery score. Study design Prospective randomized clinical study. Animals Twenty-nine healthy, 2- to 5-year-old horses undergoing surgical correction of dorsal displacement of the soft palate. Methods Each horse was assigned randomly to recover in either an illuminated ( n = 15) or a darkened stall ( n = 14). For pre-anesthetic medication, all horses received intravenous (IV) xylazine (0.4 mg kg−1) and butorphanol (0.02 mg kg−1). Anesthesia was induced with midazolam (0.1 mg kg−1) and ketamine (2.2 mg kg−1) IV and maintained on isoflurane in oxygen. Vital parameters, end-tidal CO2 and isoflurane were recorded at 5-minute intervals. At the conclusion of anesthesia, horses were placed in either an illuminated or a darkened stall and xylazine (0.2 mg kg−1) IV was administered at extubation. Video cameras were used to record the horses while they were allowed to recover undisturbed. Video recordings were later viewed and recoveries were evaluated on a 100-point scale by three graders. Results Horses in illuminated and darkened recovery stalls were evaluated on total anesthesia time, minimum alveolar concentration hours of isoflurane, time to first movement, time to standing, and total recovery score. There were no significant differences between the two groups in any of the measured parameters. Conclusion Recovering horses in a darkened versus an illuminated recovery stall may provide no benefit. Clinical relevance Darkening the recovery stalls for horses recovering from general anesthesia may be unnecessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Quantitative neuromuscular monitoring is essential for studies of potency and duration of neuromuscular blocking agents, and for detecting residual paralysis in anesthetized patients. This investigation evaluates whether there are systematic differences between acceleromyography ( AMG) and electromyography ( EMG); two quantitative methods for monitoring neuromuscular block. Study design Prospective. Animals Ten healthy Beagle dogs. Methods Dogs were anesthetized with isoflurane and dexmedetomidine. Both ulnar nerves were stimulated with a train-of-four ( TOF) pattern every 15 seconds. The magnitude of the first twitch ( T1) and the TOF ratio (magnitude of T4/ T1; TOFR) were quantified simultaneously with AMG and EMG, applied randomly to each extremity. The extent of maximal block ( T1 depression) and onset time were measured by AMG and EMG during TOF monitoring after the administration of cisatracurium (0.05 mg kg−1). In addition, recovery of T1 to 25% and 75%, the recovery index (time between T1 of 25% and 75%), and recovery of the TOFR to 0.9 were used to characterize recovery from cisatracurium and were compared between monitors. Regression and Bland- Altman plots for T1 and TOFR were also created. Results Maximal block and onset time were not different between monitors. Time to recovery of T1 to 25% and 75%, and time to TOF ratio 0.9 was significantly shorter with AMG. The recovery index was not different between monitors. When the TOFR returned to 0.9 with AMG, EMG still measured considerable residual block ( TOFR 0.47). Conclusions and clinical relevance Electromyography consistently detected residual NMB when recovery from NMB was complete as assessed by AMG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]