Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia
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To evaluate the potency and duration of three subparalyzing doses of vecuronium (VEC) in isoflurane-anesthetized horses. ⋯ 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.
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To explore, in rabbits, the minimum infusion rates (MIR) required and recovery time from long duration (≤ 8 hours) continuous infusion of fospropofol disodium, a novel water-soluble prodrug of propofol, and compare it with propofol. ⋯ After continuous intravenous infusion in rabbits (≤ 8 hours), fospropofol disodium and propofol both show an extension of recovery time with increasing infusion time, fospropofol disodium showing a significantly greater prolongation compared to propofol emulsion when infusion time increases to 6 and 8 hours.
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To test the hypothesis that hypercapnic hyperpnea produced using endotracheal insufflation with 5-10% CO(2) in oxygen could be used to shorten anesthetic recovery time in horses, and that recovery from sevoflurane would be faster than from isoflurane. ⋯ Hypercapnic hyperpnea decreases time to standing without influencing anesthetic recovery quality. Although the lower blood gas solubility of sevoflurane should favor a shorter recovery time compared to isoflurane, this advantage is negated by the greater respiratory depression from sevoflurane in horses.
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To describe the landmarks and methodology to approach the thoracic paravertebral space in dogs; to evaluate if intercostal muscular response could be evoked by a nerve-stimulator; to radiographically assess the distribution pattern of a radio-opaque contrast medium after thoracic paravertebral injections. ⋯ Intercostal muscular responses obtained with a stimulating current of 0.5 mA could be useful to locate thoracic spinal nerves in dogs and in our study the injected solution was confined to one thoracic paravertebral space.
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To examine the influence of a low dose dexmedetomidine infusion on the nociceptive withdrawal reflex and temporal summation in dogs during isoflurane anaesthesia. ⋯ This experimental study confirms previous reports on its peri-operative efficacy under clinical conditions, and further indicates that dexmedetomidine might reduce the risk of post-operative chronic pain development.