Determination of the Minimum Infusion Rate of Alfaxalone Combined with Electroacupuncture in Goats.

Lingling Liu,Eman Salah,Rui Sun,Sha Nan,Mingxing Ding,Mahmoud M Abouelfetouh,Yi Ding

doi:10.3390/ani11102989

Abstract

Simple SummaryGoats have been used as animal models in research and are increasingly kept as pets like dogs and cats. Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is increasingly used in companion animals. Electroacupuncture (EA) has been proven to produce analgesia, therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the effect of EA on alfaxalone-based TIVA in goats. In this current study, the minimum infusion rate (MIR) of alfaxalone was determined in a combination with EA. The findings found that EA reduces the alfaxalone MIR required to prevent purposeful movement of the extremities in response to standardized noxious. In conclusion, EA provided analgesia, reduced the MIR of alfaxalone-based IV anesthesia, and thereby alleviated the adverse cardiorespiratory effects associated with alfaxalone anesthesia in goats.Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is increasingly used in companion animals. The effect of electroacupuncture (EA) on alfaxalone-based TIVA has not been previously reported in goats. Therefore, the objective of this study was to determine the minimum infusion rate (MIR) of alfaxalone required to prevent purposeful movement of the extremities in response to standardized noxious stimulation during its combination with EA in goats. Twelve clinically healthy goats weighing 18.5 ± 2 kg were randomly assigned to two groups (six goats/group). Alfaxalone alone (ALF group) and alfaxalone combined with EA (EA-ALF group). In the EA-ALF, alfaxalone was administered 30 min after EA stimulation. For induction of anesthesia, a bolus of alfaxalone was given at 3 mg/kg IV, and an infusion dose of 9.6 mg/kg/h was initially set for maintenance. The MIR of alfaxalone in both groups was determined by testing for responses to stimulation (clamping on a digit with Vulsellum forceps) at 10-min intervals after induction of anesthesia till the entire period of the experiment. Cardiopulmonary parameters and nociceptive threshold were measured throughout anesthesia. The median alfaxalone MIR was significantly lower in the EA-ALF group than the ALF group [9 (4.8–9.6) and 12 (11.4–18)], respectively; p = 0.0035). In the ALF group, goats anesthetized with MIR showed a significant increase in heart rate and cardiac output (p < 0.0001 and 0.0312, respectively), and decrease in respiratory rate (p < 0.0001), hemoglobin oxygen saturation (p = 0.0081), and rectal temperature (p = 0.0046) compared with those in the EA-ALF. Additionally, goats in the EA-ALF showed a higher nociceptive threshold than those in the ALF group (p < 0.0001). EA provided analgesia, reduced the MIR of alfaxalone-based IV anesthesia and thereby alleviated the adverse cardiorespiratory effects associated with alfaxalone anesthesia in goats.

Highlights

Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is becoming a pivotal technique to achieve adequate depth of anesthesia in companion animals, such as dogs and cats [1,2]
TIVA is defined as a protocol of using an anesthetic agent as a constant rate infusion (CRI) alone or in a combination with premedication to provide hypnosis, antinociception, and reducing dosage requirements of anesthetic drugs, minimizing adverse effects [3]
There were nonsignificant differences in the alfaxalone dose required for induction of anesthesia between the ALF and EA-ALF group

Summary

Introduction

Total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) is becoming a pivotal technique to achieve adequate depth of anesthesia in companion animals, such as dogs and cats [1,2]. TIVA is defined as a protocol of using an anesthetic agent as a constant rate infusion (CRI) alone or in a combination with premedication to provide hypnosis, antinociception, and reducing dosage requirements of anesthetic drugs, minimizing adverse effects [3]. Alfaxalone is a neuroactive steroid drug that is commonly applied for induction and maintenance of anesthesia in dogs [5] and cats [6]. Compared to other anesthetic agents, alfaxalone has several merits, including a broad margin of safety and fast onset of action, and less cumulative effects following repeated dosages [7]. Alfaxalone has been reported to have minimal hemodynamic effects during anesthesia in goats [8,9,10] and sheep [11]

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