A comparison of alfaxalone and propofol on intraocular pressure in healthy dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the effects of alfaxalone and propofol on intraocular (IOP) pressure in the canine eye.


METHODS
Twenty-three healthy adult dogs.


METHODS
Dogs were randomized to receive intravenous propofol (n = 11) or alfaxalone (n = 12) until loss of jaw tone, 20 min after intravenous premedication (acepromazine 0.02-0.03 mg/kg and hydromorphone 0.05-0.1 mg/kg). IOP was measured at baseline (BL), 20 min postpremedication (postpremed), loss of jaw tone (postinduct), and immediately following orotracheal intubation (postintub). Between- and within-treatment effects were analyzed with two-way and one-way repeated measures ANOVA with Bonferroni's post hoc test, respectively. P < 0.05 was considered significant.


RESULTS
No significant IOP differences were detected between alfaxalone or propofol groups at any time point (P > 0.05). Propofol: IOP did not change between BL (15.5 ± 2.7 mmHg) and postpremed (16.2 ± 3.6 mmHg, P > 0.05), or postinduct (19.1 ± 5.2 mmHg) and postintub (21.0 ± 4.6 mmHg, P > 0.05), but differed significantly between BL and postinduct (P < 0.0001), and postintub (P < 0.0001). Alfaxalone: IOP did not change between BL (15.7 ± 2.8 mmHg) and postpremed (15.3 ± 4.1 mmHg, P > 0.05), or postinduct (19.2 ± 4.9 mmHg) and postintub (20.5 ± 4.5 mmHg, P > 0.05), but differed significantly between BL and postinduct (P < 0.01), and postintub (P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
These data show a potentially clinically significant increase in IOP following induction with propofol or alfaxalone, but no difference between agents.
Veterinary Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada, T2N 4Z6.
Michelle M M
MM
Hasiuk
Nessa
N
Forde
Amy
A
Cooke
Kelli
K
Ramey
Daniel S J
DS
Pang
D000777:Anesthetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D007429:Intraocular Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D011277:Pregnanediones / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology*
D000777:Anesthetics; D011277:Pregnanediones; C006477:alphaxalone; D015742:Propofol
alfaxalone; dog; intraocular pressure; propofol