Gas exchange during xylazine-ketamine anesthesia in neonatal calves.
Ten neonatal calves were anesthetized with xylazine and ketamine intramuscularly and breathed air spontaneously. Drug injection was repeated after 45 minutes. Each injection resulted in a rapid and sustained increase in respiratory rate, but arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) increased, indicating hypoventilation. Arterial hypoxemia, primarily caused by hypoventilation, developed within 15 minutes of each injection, but gradually disappeared. Acidemia was primarily respiratory in origin. Heart rate and arterial blood pressure decreased for the duration of anesthesia (90 minutes). This form of anesthesia is a satisfactory alternative to inhalation anesthesia of neonatal calves.
Blaze
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Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing 48824.
Holland
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Grant
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D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology*; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000097:blood; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007649:Ketamine; D008297:Male; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D011659:Pulmonary Gas Exchange; D012119:Respiration; D013843:Thiazines; D014991:Xylazine
D001639:Bicarbonates; D013843:Thiazines; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D014991:Xylazine; D007649:Ketamine; D010100:Oxygen