Abstract
Xylazine, midazolam and a midazolam/ketamine combination were administered to 6 goats in a randomised 3-way block design. All goats received all treatments with at least a 7-day interval between treatments. Statistically significant (P < 0.05) changes were observed in some of the measured cardiopulmonary variables for xylazine and midazolam/ ketamine. Xylazine administration resulted in statistically significant decreases in minute volume, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure. The increase in arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide was not statistically significant. For the midazolam/ketamine combination, the decrease in tidal volume was statistically significant, but not the decrease in minute volume and increase in arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide. The decrease in the arterial partial pressure of oxygen was also statistically significant. The mean arterial blood pressure for the combination was statistically significantly higher compared to xylazine. The changes in cardiopulmonary variables after midazolam administration were not statistically significant, such as tidal and minute volume, arterial partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide. However, clinically significant effects such as hypoventilation and hypoxia were observed after its administration. The change in mean arterial blood pressure was minimal.
Highlights
Xylazine is commonly used in ruminants as a sedative or as an adjunct to ketamine anaesthesia[5,18]
The popularity of the benzodiazepines as anaesthetic adjuncts is increasing as a result of their mild cardiovascular effects, and its combined use with ketamine is recommended for old and debilitated animals[5]
The end-tidal CO2 concentration (ETCO2) concentration for midazolam/ketamine was significantly higher compared to xylazine over the 15-min treatment period (Table 1)
Summary
Xylazine is commonly used in ruminants as a sedative or as an adjunct to ketamine anaesthesia[5,18]. For sheep and goats the use of xylazine represents an extra-label use of the drug. Xylazine may be used as an anaesthetic adjunct in combination with ketamine to obtain anaesthesia[10]. The popularity of the benzodiazepines as anaesthetic adjuncts is increasing as a result of their mild cardiovascular effects, and its combined use with ketamine is recommended for old and debilitated animals[5]. Midazolam hydrochloride is a water-soluble benzodiazepine salt, the free base being highly lipid soluble, with low solubility in water. It exerts a dose-dependent sedativeaDepartment of Companion Animal Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa
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More From: Journal of the South African Veterinary Association
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