Evaluation of anesthesia produced by ketofol in acepromazine- or medetomidine-sedated dogs.

Moses Wamaitha,John Mande,Eddy Mogoa

doi:10.5455/javar.2019.f335

Moses Wamaitha, John Mande + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.5455/javar.2019.f335

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Abstract

Objective:A randomized, blinded clinical study was conducted to evaluate ketofol (Ketamine + Propofol combination) anesthesia in 12 entire male mongrel dogs sedated with either acepromazine (ACP) or medetomidine.Materials and Methods:Group A (6) dogs were pre-medicated with ACP and Group B (6) dogs with medetomidine. Anesthesia was induced and maintained using ketofol (ketamine and propofol). Routine open pre-scrotal castration was performed. Sedation score and ease of arousal were assessed and recorded. Duration and depth of anesthesia were evaluated using apnea and the absence of palpebral and pedal reflexes, attempts to stand up, and muscle tremors and post-operative pain. Simple statistics were compared using Student t-test and Mann–Whitney test (p < 0.05).Results:Medetomidine-sedated dogs had higher sedation scores compared to ACP-sedated dogs. Medetomidine-ketofol produced significantly (p < 0.05) longer duration of anesthesia (24.5 ± 3.1 min) compared to ACP-ketofol (10.0 ± 4.4 min). Sixty-seven percent of dogs anesthetized with ACP-ketofol required top up with ketofol to complete the castration. However, none of the Med-ketofol anesthetized dogs required top up. Med-ketofol produced a more profound depth of anesthesia and smoother recovery from anesthesia compared to ACP-ketofol. Med-ketofol (median score 6) attained better overall post-operative analgesia compared to ACP-ketofol (median score 7), though not statistically significant (p = 0.25). Although both protocols provided adequate anesthesia for castration, top up was required to complete the operation in more than half of ACP-ketofol anesthetized dogs, making Med-ketofol a better protocol.Conclusion:The study recommends the use of Med-ketofol anesthesia for castration in a dog, and post-operative analgesia to be administered with either protocol, but more so in ACP-ketofol anesthetized dogs undergoing castration.

Highlights

Premedication is commonly used to reduce anxiety and sedate dogs and cats
This study aimed to evaluate ketofol anesthesia in medetomidine- or ACP-sedated dogs
The study findings revealed that four dogs (83%) in ACP-ketofol protocol experienced tremors during recovery compared to two dogs (33%) in Medetomidine-ketofol anesthesia protocol

Summary

Introduction

Premedication is commonly used to reduce anxiety and sedate dogs and cats. Acepromazine at 0.05 mg/kg intravenously produces sedation within 10 min [1,2]. Medetomidine is a widely used alpha-2-adrenoceptor agonist with rapid onset of sedation, analgesia, and muscle relaxation following intramuscular administration to dogs and cats. Administration to dogs at 30 μg/kg, intramuscularly, provides significant sedation that is evident within 5 min and lasts for 1–2 h [1]. It produces analgesia and muscle relaxation and substantially reduces the amount of injectable and inhalational anesthetic required to induce and maintain anesthesia when used as a premedicant [3]

Results

Discussion

Conclusion