Haemodynamic, metabolic and physical responses to a neuroleptanalgesic-glyceryl guaiacolate combination in the horse.
A commercial neuroleptanalgesic acepromazine-etorphine combination administered intramuscularly to four horses produced a severe tachycardia and an increase in muscular tone, together with hypoxaemia, hypercapnia, metabolic acidosis associated with an increase in the packed cell volume and hyperglycaemia. No electrolyte changes were found. After reversal of the action of etorphine with diprenorphine, there was a prolonged decrease in the calcium and phosphorus serum concentrations and decreases in the packed cell volume and the total protein serum concentration. In a second experiment on the same four horses, glyceryl guaiacolate (10 g/100 kg body weight intravenously) was given as soon as the horses were anaesthetized with acepromazine-etorphine. The muscular rigidity disappeared and the tachycardia was less evident. There was a more pronounced hypoxaemia but the changes in the other parameters were similar to those in the first experiment. It was concluded that the neuroleptanalgesic-glyceryl guaiacolate combination is not a safe anaesthetic procedure in horses.
Gasthuys
F
F
Large Animal Surgical Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, State University, Gent, Belgium.
Vandamme
R
R
De Moor
A
A
De Meurichy
W
W
D000075:Acepromazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002118:Calcium / Q000097:blood; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005048:Etorphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D006140:Guaifenesin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009019:Morphinans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009127:Muscle Rigidity / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D009458:Neuroleptanalgesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011188:Potassium / Q000097:blood; D011674:Pulse / Q000187:drug effects; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors; D014202:Tremor / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary
D001786:Blood Glucose; D004338:Drug Combinations; D009019:Morphinans; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005048:Etorphine; D006140:Guaifenesin; D000075:Acepromazine; D011188:Potassium; D010100:Oxygen; D002118:Calcium