Continuous positive airway pressure administered via face mask in tranquilized dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the tolerance of a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mask in tranquilized dogs and compare PaO₂ in arterial blood in dogs receiving oxygen with a regular face mask or CPAP mask set to maintain a pressure of 2.5 or 5 cm H₂O.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized clinical study.


METHODS
University teaching hospital.


METHODS
Sixteen client-owned dogs without evidence of cardiopulmonary disease were studied.


METHODS
Eight animals were randomly assigned to each of 2 treatment groups: group A received 2.5 cm H₂O CPAP and group B received 5 cm H₂O CPAP after first receiving oxygen (5 L/min) by a regular face mask. Animals were tranquilized with acepromazine 0.05 mg/kg, i.v. and morphine 0.2 mg/kg, i.m.. An arterial catheter was then placed to facilitate blood sampling for pHa, PaO₂, and PaCO₂ determinations before and after treatments. Direct mean arterial pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature were also recorded after each treatment.


RESULTS
CPAP administration was well tolerated by all animals. The mean arterial pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature, PaCO₂, and pHa, did not differ at any time point between groups. Differences were seen in oxygenation; in group A, PaO₂ significantly increased from a mean of 288.3 ± 47.5 mm Hg with a standard mask to a mean of 390.3 ± 65.5 mm Hg with the CPAP mask and in group B, PaO₂ increased similarly from 325.0 ± 70.5 to 425.2 ± 63.4 mm Hg (P<0.05); no differences were detected between the 2 CPAP treatments.


CONCLUSIONS
In healthy tranquilized dogs noninvasive CPAP is well tolerated and increases PaO₂ above values obtained when using a regular face mask.
Veterinary Clinical Department, University of Veterinary Medicine, San Piero a Grado, Pisa, Italy. abriganti@vet.unipi.it
Angela
A
Briganti
Pierre
P
Melanie
Diego
D
Portela
Gloria
G
Breghi
Khursheed
K
Mama
D000075:Acepromazine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000097:blood; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000662:veterinary*; D004283:Dog Diseases; D004285:Dogs; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006339:Heart Rate; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009020:Morphine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood; D056152:Respiratory Rate; D013696:Temperature
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D000075:Acepromazine; D009020:Morphine; D010100:Oxygen