Baldrey V, Stanford M, Bacon H. A comparison of the pharmacodynamic effects of intravenous ketamine-xylazine with alfaxalone in mute swans (Cygnus olor) presenting at a wildlife veterinary hospital.
Vet Anaesth Analg 2021;
48:716-724. [PMID:
34340944 DOI:
10.1016/j.vaa.2021.03.014]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2020] [Revised: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To compare effects of intravenous (IV) alfaxalone with ketamine-xylazine combination on anaesthetic induction, recovery and cardiopulmonary variables in mute swans.
STUDY DESIGN
Randomized, controlled, clinical study.
ANIMALS
A group of 58 mute swans.
METHODS
Swans were given either alfaxalone (10 mg kg-1; group A) or a combination of ketamine (12.5 mg kg-1) and xylazine (0.28 mg kg-1) (group KX) IV. Heart and respiratory rates, end-tidal carbon dioxide and peripheral haemoglobin oxygen saturation were recorded at 5 minute intervals during anaesthesia. Time from anaesthetic induction to intubation, from cessation of isoflurane to extubation, to lifting head, sternal recumbency and absence of head/neck ataxia were recorded. Anaesthetic and recovery quality were scored (1 = very poor; 5 = excellent). Data are presented as median (interquartile range). Significance was set at p < 0.05.
RESULTS
In group A, 44% (12/27) of swans required mechanical ventilation for 2-14 minutes versus 3.2% (1/31) of swans in group KX (p = 0.0002). Heart rate was higher in group A than in group KX [146 (127-168) versus 65.5 (56-78) beats minute-1, respectively; p < 0.0001]. The isoflurane concentration required to maintain anaesthesia was higher in group A than in group KX [2.5% (2.0-3.0%) versus 1.5% (1.0-2.0%), respectively; p = 0.0001]. Time from cessation of isoflurane administration to lifting head was significantly longer in group A than in group KX [12 (9-17) versus 6 (4-7.75) minutes, respectively; p < 0.0001]. Anaesthesia quality scores were significantly better in group KX than in group A [4 (4-5) versus 4 (3-4), respectively; p = 0.0011], as were recovery scores [4 (3-5) versus 2 (2-3), respectively; p = 0.0005].
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE
Alfaxalone is a suitable anaesthetic induction agent for use in mute swans. There is a greater incidence of postinduction apnoea and a higher incidence of agitation on recovery with alfaxalone than with ketamine-xylazine.
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