Şükrü GÜRLER, Ünal YAVUZ, Esra KİRAZOĞLU

Evaluation of hemodynamic, hematological parameters and the clinical effects of dexmedetomidine-ketamine and xylazine-ketamine anesthesia in rabbits

t: With this study, it was aimed to assess the effects of experimentally induced dexmedetomidine-ketamine (DK) and xylazineketamine (XK) combinations on clinical parameters and hemodynamic and hematological parameters in rabbits. In the study, 16 male New Zealand breed rabbits were divided into two groups. Group DK (n = 8) was administered dexmedetomidine (25 µg/kg) and ketamine (30 mg/kg) in the same injector, and Group XK (n = 8) was administered xylazine (4 mg/kg) and ketamine (30 mg/kg) in the same injector through the intramuscular (IM) route. Following the injection, the rabbits’ reflexes were tested approximately every 30 s. Hemodynamic parameters were determined before the injection (0 min) and 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 min after the anesthetic combinations were injected. Furthermore, blood gas and electrolyte values were analyzed before, during and after anesthesia. The differences between the groups were not statistically significant in terms of the loss and return times of the righting reflex, ear-pinch reflex and pedal withdrawal reflex (P > 0.05). The mean surgical anesthesia duration was determined as 115 min in the DK group and 116.5 min in the XK group. In both groups, the heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), mean arterial pressure (MAP) and arterial oxygen saturation of hemoglobin (SpO2 ) decreases. In the statistical analysis, the differences between the groups were statistically significant in terms of HR at the 5th, 10th and 15th min and in terms of SpO2 at the 120th min (P < 0.05). In the DK group, the change in RR based on the pre-injection time (0 min) was found significant (P < 0.05). In the statistical analyses on the arterial blood gases and electrolyte findings, the differences between the DK and XK groups were insignificant in terms of pH, pCO2 and pO2 (P > 0.05) and significant in terms of only glucose (mg/dL) at the 5th min (P < 0.05). Consequently, it was observed that the DK and XK combinations had similar effects in healthy adult rabbits regarding the reflex findings, anesthesia duration and hemodynamic and hematological parameters. It was concluded that, to prevent hypoxemia related to RR decrease in the combination of α2 adrenergic agonists and ketamine, there is a need for oxygen reinforcement starting with the induction of anesthesia, and the DK combination needs to be used carefully in patients with respiratory depression

PDF

___

1. Balko JA, Chinnadurai SK. Advancements in evidencebased anesthesia of exotic animals. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice 2017; 20 (3): 917-928. doi: org/10.1016/j. cvex.2017.04.014
2. Hedenqvist P, Orr HE, Roughan JV, Antunes LM, Flecknell PA. Anaesthesia with ketamine/medetomidine in the rabbit: influence of route of administration and the effect of combination with butorphanol. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 2002; 29 (1): 14-19. doi: 10.1046/j.1467- 2987.2001.00058.x
3. Bellini L, Banzato T Contiero B. Zotti A. Evaluation of sedation and clinical effects of midazolam with ketamine or dexmedetomidine in pet rabbits. Veterinary Record 2014. doi: 10,1136 / vr.102595
4. Hellebrekers LJ, Boer EJW, Zuylen MA, Vosmeer HA. Comparison between medetomidine ketamine and medetomidine-propofol anaesthesia in rabbits. Laboratory Animals 1997; 31 (1): 58-69. doi: 10.1258 / 002367797780600215
5. Demirkan İ, Atalan G, Gökçe Hİ, Özaydın İ, Çelebi F. Comparative study of butorphanol-ketamin HCl and xylazine-ketamin HCl combinations for their clinical and cardiovascular/respiratory effects in healthy dogs. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 2002; 26 (5): 1073- 1079.
6. Wellington D, Mikaelian I, Singer L. Comparison of ketamine– xylazine and ketamine–dexmedetomidine anesthesia and intraperitoneal tolerance in rats. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science 2013; 52 (4): 481- 487.
7. Ünsaldı S. Premedikasyon amacıyla kullanılan ilaçlar. In: Ünsaldı S (editor). Veteriner Anestezi. 1st ed. İstanbul, Turkey: Nobel Tıp Kitabevi; 2011. pp. 7-18.
8. Karasu A, Altug N, Aslan L, Bakır B, Yuksek N. Evaluation of the anesthetic effects of xylazine-ketamine, xylazine-tiletaminezolazepam and tiletamine-zolazepam using clinical and laboratory parameters in rabbits. Medycyna Weterynaryjna, 2018; 74 (10): 646-652. doi: 10.21521/mw.6119
9. Henke J, Astner S, Brill T, Eissner B, Busch R et al. Comparative study of three intramuscular anaesthetic combinations (medetomidine/ketamine, medetomidine/fentanyl/midazolam and xylazine/ketamine) in rabbits. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 2005; 32 (5): 261-270. doi: 10.1111 / j.1467- 2995.2005.00242.x
10. Orr HE, Roughan JV, Flecknell PA. Assessment of ketamine and medetomidine anaesthesia in the domestic rabbit. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 2005; 32 (5): 271-279.
11. Kılıç N. A comparison between medetomidine-ketamine and xylazine-ketamine anaesthesia in rabbits. Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences 2004; 28: 921-926.
12. Bienert, A, Płotek W, Wiczling P, Warzybok J, Borowska K et al. The influence of age and dosage on the pharmacodynamics of dexmedetomidine in rabbits. Journal of Medical Science 2014; 83 (2): 108-115.
13. Ren J, Li C, Ma S, Wu J, Yang Y. Impact of dexmedetomidine on hemodynamics in rabbits. Acta Cirurgica Brasileira 2018; 33 (4): 314-323. doi: 10.1590/s0102-865020180040000003
14. Difilippo SM, Norberg PJ, Suson UD, Savino AM, Reim DAA. Comparison of xylazine and medetomidine in an anesthetic combination in New Zealand white rabbits. Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science 2004; 43 (1): 32-34.
15. Brodbelt DC, Blissitt KJ, Hammond RA, Neath PJ, Young LE et al. The risk of death: the confidential enquiry into perioperative small animal fatalities. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 2008; 35 (5): 365-373. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-2995.2008.00397.x
16. Nishida T, Nishimura M, Kagawa K, Hayashi Y, Mashimo T. The effects of dexmedetomidine on the ventilatory response to hypercapnia in rabbits. Intensive Care Medicine 2002; 28 (7): 969-975. doi: 10.1007/s00134-002-1338-y
17. Zornow MH. Ventilatory, hemodynamic and sedative effects of the α2 adrenergic agonist, dexmedetomidine. Neuropharmacology 1991; 30 (10): 1065-1071.
18. Grint NJ, Murison PJ. A comparison of ketamine–midazolam and ketamine–medetomidine combinations for induction of anaesthesia in rabbits. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 2008; 35 (2): 113-121. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-2995.2007.00362.x
19. Baumgartner C, Bollerhey M, Ebner J, Laacke-Singer L, Schuster T et al. Effects of ketamine-xylazine intravenous bolus injection on cardiovascular function in rabbits. Canadian Journal of Veterinary Research 2010; 74 (3): 200-208.
20. Murrell JC, Hellebrekers LJ. Medetomidine and dexmedetomidine: a review of cardiovascular effects and antinociceptive properties in the dog. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 2005; 32 (3): 117-127.
21. Canpolat İ, Karabulut E, Cakir S. The efficacy of intranasal administration of dexmedetomidine, ketamine and morphine combination to rabbit. International Journal of Development Research 2016; 6 (7): 8634-8636.
22. Eatwell K, Mancinelli E, Hedley J, Benato L, Shaw DJ et al. Use of arterial blood gas analysis as a superior method for evaluating respiratory function in pet rabbits (Oryctolagus Cuniculus). Veterinary Record 2013. doi: 10.1136 / vr. 101218
23. Ardiaca M, Bonvehí C, Montesinos A. Point-of-care blood gas and electrolyte analysis in rabbits. Veterinary Clinics: Exotic Animal Practice 2013; 16 (1): 175-195. doi: 10.1016 / j.cvex.2012.10.005
24. Gallego M. Laboratory reference intervals for systolic blood pressure, rectal temperature, haematology, biochemistry and venous blood gas and electrolytes in healthy pet rabbits. Open Veterinary Journal 2017; 7 (3): 203-207. doi: 10.4314 / ovj. v7i3.1
25. Weiland LC, Kluge K, Kutter AP, Kronen PW. Clinical evaluation of intranasal medetomidine–ketamine and medetomidine–S(+)-ketamine for induction of anaesthesia in rabbits in two centres with two different administration techniques. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia 2017; 44 (1): 98-105. doi: 10.1111 / vaa.12408