Search Results

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate the effects of epidural administration of 3 doses of dexmedetomidine on isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) and characterize changes in bispectral index (BIS) induced by nociceptive stimulation used for MAC determination in dogs.

Animals—6 adult dogs.

Procedures—Isoflurane-anesthetized dogs received physiologic saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (control treatment) or dexmedetomidine (1.5 [DEX1.5], 3.0 [DEX3], or 6.0 [DEX6] μg/kg) epidurally in a crossover study. Isoflurane MAC (determined by use of electrical nociceptive stimulation of the hind limb) was targeted to be accomplished at 2 and 4.5 hours. Changes in BIS attributable to nociceptive stimulation and cardiopulmonary data were recorded at each MAC determination.

Results—With the control treatment, mean ± SD MAC values did not change over time (1.57 ± 0.23% and 1.55 ± 0.25% at 2 and 4.5 hours, respectively). Compared with the control treatment, MAC was significantly lower at 2 hours (13% reduction) but not at 4.5 hours (7% reduction) in DEX1.5-treated dogs and significantly lower at 2 hours (29% reduction) and 4.5 hours (13% reduction) in DEX3-treated dogs. The DEX6 treatment yielded the greatest MAC reduction (31% and 22% at 2 and 4.5 hours, respectively). During all treatments, noxious stimulation increased BIS; but changes in BIS were correlated with increases in electromyographic activity.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—In dogs, epidural administration of dexmedetomidine resulted in dose-dependent decreases in isoflurane MAC and that effect decreased over time. Changes in BIS during MAC determinations may not represent increased awareness because of the possible interference of electromyographic activity.

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate the effects of remifentanil on isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration (ISO_MAC) in dogs.

Animals—6 adult mixed-breed dogs.

Procedures—Dogs were anesthetized with isoflurane on 2 occasions. During the first set of experiments, ISO_MAC was determined before remifentanil infusion (baseline), during constant rate infusion (CRI) of remifentanil (0.15, 0.30, 0.60, and 0.90 μg/kg/min), and 80 minutes after remifentanil infusion. After a 1-week washout period, dogs received a CRI of remifentanil (0.15 μg/kg/min) and ISO_MAC was redetermined 2, 4, and 6 hours after commencing the infusion.

Results—Mean ± SD baseline ISO_MAC was 1.24 ± 0.18%. Remifentanil infusion (0.15, 0.30, 0.60, and 0.90 μg/kg/min) decreased ISO_MAC by 43 ± 10%, 59 ± 10%, 66 ± 9%, and 71 ± 9%, respectively. The ISO_MAC values determined during the 0.30, 0.60, and 0.90 μg/kg/min infusion rates did not differ from each other, but these values were significantly lower, compared with the 0.15 μg/kg/min infusion rate. The ISO_MAC recorded after remifentanil infusion (1.09 ± 0.18%) did not differ from baseline ISO_MAC. There was no change in ISO_MAC throughout the 6-hour period of a CRI of remifentanil.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Remifentanil decreased ISO_MAC in a dose-related fashion; the reduction in ISO_MAC was stable over the course of a prolonged CRI (6 hours). A dose of 0.30 μg of remifentanil/kg/min resulted in nearly maximal isoflurane-sparing effect in dogs; a ceiling effect was observed at higher infusion rates.

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate the isoflurane-sparing effects of lidocaine and fentanyl administered by constant rate infusion (CRI) during surgery in dogs.

Design—Randomized prospective study.

Animals—24 female dogs undergoing unilateral mastectomy because of mammary neoplasia.

Procedures—After premedication with acepromazine and morphine and anesthetic induction with ketamine and diazepam, anesthesia in dogs (n = 8/group) was maintained with isoflurane combined with either saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (control), lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg [0.68 mg/lb], IV bolus, followed by 250 μg/kg/min [113 μg/lb/min], CRI), or fentanyl (5 μg/kg [2.27 μg/lb], IV bolus, followed by 0.5 μg/kg/min [0.23 μg/lb/min], CRI). Positive-pressure ventilation was used to maintain eucapnia. An anesthetist unaware of treatment, endtidal isoflurane (ETiso) concentration, and vaporizer concentrations adjusted a nonprecision vaporizer to maintain surgical depth of anesthesia. Cardiopulmonary variables and ETiso values were monitored before and after beginning surgery.

Results—Heart rate was lower in the fentanyl group. Mean arterial pressure did not differ among groups after surgery commenced. In the control group, mean ± SD ETiso values ranged from 1.16 ± 0.35% to 1.94 ± 0.96%. Fentanyl significantly reduced isoflurane requirements during surgical stimulation by 54% to 66%, whereas the reduction in ETiso concentration (34% to 44%) observed in the lidocaine group was not significant.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Administration of fentanyl resulted in greater isoflurane sparing effect than did lidocaine. However, it appeared that the low heart rate induced by fentanyl may partially offset the improvement in mean arterial pressure that would be expected with reduced isoflurane requirements.

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate the effects of increasing doses of remifentanil hydrochloride administered via constant rate infusion (CRI) on the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane in cats.

Animals—6 healthy adult cats.

Procedures—For each cat, 2 experiments were performed (2-week interval). On each study day, anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane; a catheter was placed in a cephalic vein for the administration of lactated Ringer's solution or remifentanil CRIs, and a catheter was placed in the jugular vein for collection of blood samples for blood gas analyses. On the first study day, individual basal MAC (MAC_Basal) was determined for each cat. On the second study day, 3 remifentanil CRIs (0.25, 0.5, and 1.0 μg/kg/min) were administered (in ascending order); for each infusion, at least 30 minutes elapsed before determination of MAC (designated as MAC_R0.25, MAC_R0.5, and MAC_R1.0, respectively). A 15-minute washout period was allowed between CRIs. A control MAC (MAC_Control) was determined after the last remifentanil infusion.

Results—Mean ± SD MAC_Basal and MAC_Control values at sea level did not differ significantly (1.66 ± 0.08% and 1.52 ± 0.21%, respectively). The MAC values determined for each remifentanil CRI did not differ significantly. However, MAC_R0.25, MAC_R0.5, and MAC_R1.0 were significantly decreased, compared with MAC_Basal, by 23.4 ± 7.9%, 29.8 ± 8.3%, and 26.0 ± 9.4%, respectively.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—The 3 doses of remifentanil administered via CRI resulted in a similar degree of isoflurane MAC reduction in adult cats, indicating that a ceiling effect was achieved following administration of the lowest dose.

Abstract

Objective—To evaluate the effects of 2 remifentanil infusion regimens on cardiovascular function and responses to nociceptive stimulation in propofol-anesthetized cats.

Animals—8 adult cats.

Procedures—On 2 occasions, cats received acepromazine followed by propofol (6 mg/kg then 0.3 mg/kg/min, IV) and a constant rate infusion (CRI) of remifentanil (0.2 or 0.3 μg/kg/ min, IV) for 90 minutes and underwent mechanical ventilation (phase I). After recording physiologic variables, an electrical stimulus (50 V; 50 Hz; 10 milliseconds) was applied to a forelimb to assess motor responses to nociceptive stimulation. After an interval (≥ 10 days), the same cats were anesthetized via administration of acepromazine and a similar infusion regimen of propofol; the remifentanil infusion rate adjustments that were required to inhibit cardiovascular responses to ovariohysterectomy were recorded (phase II).

Results—In phase I, heart rate and arterial pressure did not differ between remifentanil- treated groups. From 30 to 90 minutes, cats receiving 0.3 μg of remifentanil/kg/min had no response to noxious stimulation. Purposeful movement was detected more frequently in cats receiving 0.2 μg of remifentanil/kg/min. In phase II, the highest dosage (mean ± SEM) of remifentanil that prevented cardiovascular responses was 0.23 ± 0.01 μg/kg/min. For all experiments, mean time from infusion cessation until standing ranged from 115 to 140 minutes.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance—Although the lower infusion rate of remifentanil allowed ovariohysterectomy to be performed, a CRI of 0.3 μg/kg/min was necessary to prevent motor response to electrical stimulation in propofol-anesthetized cats. Recovery from anesthesia was prolonged with this technique.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To compare changes in pulse pressure variation (PPV) and plethysmographic variability index (PVI) induced by hemorrhage followed by volume replacement (VR) in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs.

ANIMALS 7 healthy adult dogs.

PROCEDURE Each dog was anesthetized with isoflurane and mechanically ventilated. End-tidal isoflurane concentration was adjusted to maintain mean arterial pressure (MAP) at 60 to 70 mm Hg before hemorrhage. Controlled hemorrhage was initiated and continued until the MAP decreased to 40 to 50 mm Hg, then autologous blood removed during hemorrhage was retransfused during VR. Various physiologic variables including PPV and PVI were recorded immediately before (baseline) and after controlled hemorrhage and immediately after VR.

RESULTS Mean ± SD PPV and PVI were significantly increased from baseline after hemorrhage (PPV, 20 ± 6%; PVI, 18 ± 4%). After VR, the mean PPV (7 ± 3%) returned to a value similar to baseline, whereas the mean PVI (10 ± 3%) was significantly lower than that at baseline. Cardiac index (CI) and stroke index (SI) were significantly decreased from baseline after hemorrhage (CI, 2.07 ± 0.26 L/min/m²; SI, 20 ± 3 mL/beat/m²) and returned to values similar to baseline after VR (CI, 4.25 ± 0.63 L/min/m²; SI, 36 ± 6 mL/beat/m²). There was a significant positive correlation (r² = 0.77) between PPV and PVI after hemorrhage.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results suggested that both PPV and PVI may be useful for identification of dogs that respond to VR with increases in SI and CI (ie, dogs in the preload-dependent limb of the Frank-Starling curve).