title: Comparison of the effects of xylazine bolus versus medetomidine constant rate infusion on the stress response, urine production, and anesthetic recovery characteristics in horses anesthetized with isoflurane.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the effect of xylazine bolus versus medetomidine constant rate infusion (MCRI) on serum cortisol and glucose concentrations, urine production, and anesthetic recovery characteristics in dorsally recumbent, spontaneously breathing, isoflurane-anesthetized horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized crossover study.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 healthy Standardbreds.
  
  
  METHODS
  Horses were premedicated with xylazine or medetomidine IV. Anesthesia was induced with diazepam and ketamine and maintained with isoflurane for 150 minutes. For the xylazine treatment, end-tidal isoflurane concentration was maintained at 1.7% and xylazine (0.2 mg/kg [0.09 mg/lb]), IV) was administered as a bolus at the end of anesthesia. For the MCRI treatment, end-tidal isoflurane concentration was maintained at 1.4% and medetomidine (0.005 mg/kg/h [0.0023 mg/lb/h], IV) was infused throughout anesthesia. Serum cortisol and glucose concentrations were measured before, during, and after anesthesia. Urine specific gravity and volume were measured during anesthesia. Unassisted anesthetic recoveries were recorded by a digital video camera for later evaluation by 2 observers who were blinded to treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum cortisol concentration was lower and serum glucose concentration was higher with MCRI treatment, compared with xylazine treatment. Time to sternal recumbency was longer with MCRI treatment, but no difference was seen between treatments for times to extubation, first movement, or standing. Objective (mean attempt interval) and subjective (visual analog score) recovery scores were significantly better with MCRI treatment, compared with xylazine treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In isoflurane-anesthetized horses, premedication and administration of medetomidine as a constant rate infusion resulted in decreased serum cortisol concentration, increased serum glucose concentration, and superior anesthetic recovery characteristics, compared with conventional treatment with xylazine.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Companion Animals, Atlantic Veterinary College, Charlottetown, PE C1A 4P3, Canada. cate.creighton@adelaide.edu.au
authors.forename: Catherine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Creighton
authors.forename: Kip A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Lemke
authors.forename: Leigh A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Lamont
authors.forename: Barbara S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Horney
authors.forename: Aimie J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Doyle
mesh_terms: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000662:veterinary; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000187:drug effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006736:Horses; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013312:Stress, Physiological / Q000187:drug effects*; D014991:Xylazine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D001786:Blood Glucose; D014991:Xylazine; D007530:Isoflurane; D020926:Medetomidine; D006854:Hydrocortisone