Advantages and guidelines for using alpha-2 agonists as anesthetic adjuvants.
Xylazine and medetomidine produce reliable sedation, muscle relaxation, and analgesia in dogs and cats. In addition, alpha-2 agonists have proved very effective as sedative-analgesic adjuncts when coadministered with benzodiazepine or opioid agonists. Alpha-2 agonists should not be classified as monoanesthetics. They are excellent anesthetic adjuncts when combined with dissociatives and opioids. Because of the acute alterations in cardiopulmonary function commonly induced by alpha-2 agonists, it is suggested that their use be restricted to the young healthy patient undergoing routine surgical or diagnostic procedure. The development of more specific and selective alpha-2 agonists will continue to enhance the safety and reliability of this novel class of compounds. The unique spectrum of anesthetic properties induced by alpha-2 agonists has assured them of an increasingly prominent role in the development of new and sophisticated ways of achieving anesthesia.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine, Urbana.
W J
WJ
Tranquilli
G J
GJ
Benson
D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000777:Anesthetics; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D004285:Dogs / Q000502:physiology*; D007093:Imidazoles; D020926:Medetomidine; D014991:Xylazine
D000759:Adjuvants, Anesthesia; D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D000777:Anesthetics; D007093:Imidazoles; D014991:Xylazine; D020926:Medetomidine