title: Surgical implantation of radio transmitters in arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) on Svalbard, Norway.
abstract: Twelve captive wild-caught adult arctic foxes (Alopex lagopus) were anesthetized a total of 24 times for an equal number of surgical procedures involving implantation of heart rate (HR) and core body temperature transmitters (Tb) between October 1995 and April 1997. Xylazine-ketamine and medetomidine-ketamine anesthesia was used, resulting in an unacceptably high death rate. One out of four foxes anesthetized with xylazine-ketamine died, whereas two of nine foxes anesthetized with medetomidine-ketamine died out of a total of 20 surgical procedures. Durations of the surgeries for implantation of Tb transmitters and HR transmitters were 73 +/- 7 min and 95 +/- 13 min, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Norwegian Polar Institute, NO-9296 Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fuglei
authors.forename: James B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Mercer
authors.forename: Jon M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Arnemo
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000009:adverse effects; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D005260:Female; D005589:Foxes / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects; D007649:Ketamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000009:adverse effects; D009664:Norway; D019736:Prostheses and Implants / Q000662:veterinary; D012119:Respiration; D013686:Telemetry / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D014991:Xylazine / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D014991:Xylazine; D007649:Ketamine; D020926:Medetomidine