title: Evaluation of propofol and medetomidine-ketamine for short-term immobilization of Gulf of Mexico sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus de soti).
abstract: Parenteral anesthetic protocols for short-term immobilization were evaluated in twenty 4-yr-old Gulf of Mexico sturgeon (Acipenser oxyrinchus de soti). An initial dose-response trial determined the efficacy of either propofol (3.5-7.5 mg/kg. i.v.) or combinations of medetomidine (0.03-0.07 mg/kg, i.m.)-ketamine (3-7 mg/kg, i.m.). A subsequent study evaluated the physiologic effects of propofol (6.5 mg/kg, i.v.)-induced anesthesia and anesthesia induced with a medetomidine (0.06 mg/kg, i.m.)-ketamine (6 mg/kg i.m.) combination. The effects of medetomidine were reversed at 30 min with atipamezole (0.30 mg/kg, i.m.). Both drug protocols provided adequate short-term immobilization for minor diagnostic procedures. Sturgeon receiving propofol were in a light plane of anesthesia within 5 min after drug administration, whereas only 30% of the medetomidine-ketamine group reached a light plane of anesthesia in the same time period. Both propofol and medetomidine-ketamine resulted in mild bradycardia and apparent respiratory depression, with propofol producing more profound effects. At the dosages used in this study, both propofol and the medetomidine-ketamine combination effectively induced a light plane of anesthesia. Induction times were shorter in the propofol group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Zoological Medicine Service, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100125, Gainesville, Florida 32610, USA.
authors.forename: Gregory J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Fleming
authors.forename: Darryl J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Heard
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Francis Floyd
authors.forename: Alan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Riggs
mesh_terms: D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005399:Fishes / Q000502:physiology*; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007103:Immobilization; D007649:Ketamine; D020926:Medetomidine; D015742:Propofol; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007649:Ketamine; D020926:Medetomidine; D015742:Propofol