Comparison of recovery from anesthesia with isoflurane, sevoflurane, or desflurane in healthy dogs

Abstract

To determine the quality and speed of recovery from anesthesia with isoflurane, sevoflurane, or desflurane and determine end-tidal inhalant concentration at certain events during recovery in healthy dogs. 11 healthy dogs. Anesthesia was induced with propofol (IV), and dogs were assigned by use of a crossover design to receive isoflurane at 2.0%, sevoflurane at 3.2%, or desflurane at 11% end-tidal concentrations. Direct blood pressure was monitored throughout the 120 minutes of anesthesia. At the end of anesthesia, the circuit was flushed with oxygen, and the time to specific events in recovery and overall quality of recovery were assessed. Blood gas concentrations were measured prior to anesthesia and after recovery. Dogs in the desflurane group had the shortest time to standing (11.7 +/- 5.1 minutes), followed by dogs in the sevoflurane group (18.6 +/- 7.5 minutes) and dogs in the isoflurane group (26.3 +/- 7.2 minutes). There was no difference for recovery quality among groups. Arterial blood pressure was higher in the sevoflurane group than in the desflurane group at 10 and 15 minutes and in the isoflurane group at 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 105, and 120 minutes. There were no significant differences among groups with respect to blood gas concentrations. Results suggested that in dogs for which a short interval to standing is desired, desflurane is the best selection, followed by sevoflurane.