Abstract
To evaluate the effects of different concentrations of an anesthetic association in giant amazon turtles (Podocnemis expansa). Twenty healthy P. expansa of both sexes weighing between 1.0 and 1.5kg commercially bred in the Araguaia River Valley, Goias, Brazil, were separated into two groups (G1 n=10 and G2 n=10). Each group received a respective protocol: P1= acepromazine (0.5 mg/kg IM) and propofol (5 mg/kg IV) and P2 = acepromazine (0.5 mg/kg IM) and propofol (10 mg/kg IV). The acepromazine was administered in the left thoracic member and the propofol in the cervical vertebral sinus. Assessments were made of the anesthetic parameters of locomotion, muscle relaxation, response to pain stimuli in the right thoracic and pelvic members and heartbeat. The anesthetic induction time was the same for both protocols (P1 and P2); however the P2 effects were of a longer duration. The sedation achieved with both protocols (P1 and P2) were satisfactory for the biological sample collection, physical examinations and minor surgeries on this species.
Highlights
During the 1970s and 80s, hypothermia and ether inhalation were the immobilization and anesthesia techniques most used in reptile medicine, but there were high risks and results were sometimes ineffective
Propofol as a drug was first used as an inhalation anesthesia in tortoises Gopherus polyphemus[2]
Its effect was studied when associated with ketamine as a surgical anesthetic for Trachemys scripta[3] and P. expansa[4]
Summary
During the 1970s and 80s, hypothermia and ether inhalation were the immobilization and anesthesia techniques most used in reptile medicine, but there were high risks and results were sometimes ineffective. Pharmacologic contention and anesthesia are the routine procedures for physical and clinical examinations and surgeries[1]. Propofol as a drug was first used as an inhalation anesthesia in tortoises Gopherus polyphemus[2]. Its effect was studied when associated with ketamine as a surgical anesthetic for Trachemys scripta[3] and P. expansa[4]. In the same species Santos et al.[5] studied the combination of propofol and xylazine in pharmacological contention. According to Heard[6] the use of injectable anesthetics has been increasing in veterinary medicine for reptiles. Propofol is a drug characterized by fast induction and recovery. The substance is a fat-soluble hypnotic, decreasing the systemic arterial pressure and the heart debt in mammals with minimal alteration to the heart beat[7] and with no detectable arrhythmias[8]
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