Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia
-
A 2-year-old, entire female, Somali cat weighing 3.8 kg was admitted for a conjunctival graft on the right eye, for treatment of an acute descemetocele. Medetomidine 4.2 μg kg(-1) and methadone 0.2 mg kg(-1) were administered by intramuscular injection as preanaesthetic medication. Anaesthesia was induced using diazepam 0.26 mg kg(-1) and propofol 4 mg kg(-1) administered by intravenous (i.v.) injection. Following endotracheal intubation, anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane delivered in oxygen (1 L minute(-1)) and nitrous oxide (2 L minute(-1)) via a non-rebreathing system. Twenty minutes after induction of anaesthesia, one drop of a 10% phenylephrine hydrochloride solution was administered topically to the right eye. ⋯ In order to diminish the potential for cardiovascular sequelae associated with systemic absorption of ocular phenylephrine, less concentrated solutions, smaller drop size or different instillation techniques should be considered for topical use in small patients.
-
To evaluate spinal (intrathecal) anaesthesia (SA) in addition to general anaesthesia in dogs, and report the incidence of side effects and cardiovascular response (CR) to surgery. ⋯ SA can be used in clinical cases with few side effects although monitoring of and ensuing treatment of hypotension is required. Comparative prospective studies are required to establish efficacy and a reliable dose.