title: Comparison of xylazine and medetomidine as premedicants for cats being anaesthetised with propofol-sevoflurane.
abstract: The effects of premedicating cats with saline, xylazine or medetomidine before anaesthetising them with propofol-sevoflurane were compared. Twenty-four cats were randomly assigned to three groups of eight to receive either 0.25 ml of saline, 0.50 mg/kg of xylazine or 0.02 mg/kg of medetomidine intravenously, and anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with sevoflurane. Medetomidine produced a greater reduction in the induction dose of propofol and fewer adverse postoperative effects than saline or xylazine. Hypoxaemia was observed after induction with propofol in the cats premedicated with saline and xylazine, but not in the cats given medetomidine. The cats treated with medetomidine and xylazine developed profound bradycardia. The blood pressure of the cats premedicated with saline and xylazine decreased, but the blood pressure of the cats premedicated with medetomidine was maintained. The cats premedicated with saline took longer to recover from anaesthesia than the other two groups.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Anhembi Morumbi, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Selmi
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Mendes
authors.forename: B T
authors.initials: BT
authors.lastname: Lins
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Figueiredo
authors.forename: G R
authors.initials: GR
authors.lastname: Barbudo-Selmi
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D002415:Cats / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication / Q000662:veterinary*; D015742:Propofol; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D013997:Time Factors; D014991:Xylazine / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D014991:Xylazine; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D020926:Medetomidine; D015742:Propofol