title: Evaluation of a ketamine-propofol drug combination with or without dexmedetomidine for intravenous anesthesia in cats undergoing ovariectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the use of a ketamine-propofol combination, with or without dexmedetomidine, in cats undergoing ovariectomy and to assess Heinz body formation following administration of these drugs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  15 client-owned female cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Anesthesia was induced with a ketamine (2.0 mg/kg [0.91 mg/lb])-propofol (2.0 mg/kg) combination with (n = 7) or without (8) dexmedetomidine (0.003 mg/kg [0.0013 mg/lb]) and was maintained via continuous IV infusion of a 1:1 ketamine-propofol combination (administration rate for each drug, 10.0 mg/kg/h [4.54 mg/lb/h]). Cats underwent ovariectomy; duration of infusion was 25 minutes. Physiologic variables were measured at predetermined time points. Heinz bodies were quantified via examination of blood smears. Numeric scales were used to assess quality of recovery, degree of sedation, and signs of pain after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The ketamine-propofol group had a significantly higher mean heart rate at several time points during drug infusion, a significantly shorter time from the end of infusion to extubation (7 vs 29 minutes), and significantly lower sedation scores for the first hour after surgery than did the ketamine-propofol-dexmedetomidine group. Other variables were similar between groups; recovery was smooth, and anesthesia and postoperative analgesia were deemed adequate for all cats. The number of RBCs with Heinz bodies was not increased after surgery, compared with values immediately after anesthetic induction.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total IV anesthesia with a ketamine-propofol combination, with or without dexmedetomidine, appeared to be effective in healthy cats. These short-term infusions produced smooth recovery and adequate analgesia during the postoperative period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Sciences and Public Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ravasio
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gallo
authors.forename: Michela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Beccaglia
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Comazzi
authors.forename: Maria Elena
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Gelain
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Fonda
authors.forename: Valerio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Bronzo
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zonca
mesh_terms: D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary*; D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D000778:Anesthetics, Dissociative; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D007649:Ketamine; D015742:Propofol