title: Intravenous sufentanil-midazolam versus sevoflurane anaesthesia in medetomidine pre-medicated Himalayan rabbits undergoing ovariohysterectomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare physiological effects of sufentanil-midazolam with sevoflurane for surgical anaesthesia in medetomidine premedicated rabbits.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized controlled experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen female Himalayan rabbits, weight 2.1 ± 0.1 kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  Premedication with 0.1 mg kg(-1) medetomidine and 5 mg kg(-1) carprofen subcutaneously, was followed by intravenous anaesthetic induction with sufentanil (2.3 μg mL(-1)) and midazolam (0.45 mg mL(-1)). After endotracheal intubation, anaesthesia was maintained with sufentanil-midazolam (n = 9) or sevoflurane (n = 9). Ovariohysterectomy was performed. Intermittent positive pressure ventilation was performed as required. Physiological variables were studied perioperatively. Group means of physiologic data were generated for different anaesthetic periods. Data were compared for changes from sedation, and between groups by anova. Post-operatively, 0.05 mg kg(-1) buprenorphine was administered once and 5 mg kg(-1) carprofen once daily for 2-3 days. Rabbits were examined and weighed daily until one week after surgery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smooth induction of anaesthesia was achieved within 5 minutes. Sufentanil and midazolam doses were 0.5 μg kg(-1) and 0.1 mg kg(-1), during induction and 3.9 μg kg(-1) hour(-1) and 0.8 mg kg(-1) hour(-1) during surgery, respectively. End-tidal sevoflurane concentration was 2.1% during surgery. Assisted ventilation was required in nine rabbits receiving sufentanil-midazolam and four receiving sevoflurane. There were no differences between groups in physiologic data other than arterial carbon dioxide. In rabbits receiving sevoflurane, mean arterial pressure decreased pre-surgical intervention, heart rate increased 25% during and after surgery and body weight decreased 4% post-operatively. Post-operative problems sometimes resulted from catheterization of the ear artery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sevoflurane and sufentanil-midazolam provided surgical anaesthesia of similar quality. Arterial blood pressure was sustained during sufentanil-midazolam anaesthesia and rabbits receiving sevoflurane lost body weight following ovariohysterectomy. Mechanical ventilation was required with both anaesthetic regimens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Anaesthesia with sufentanil-midazolam in medetomidine premedicated healthy rabbits is useful in the clinical and the research setting, as an alternative to sevoflurane.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Hedenqvist
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Marianne
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jensen-Waern
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Åsa
authors.initials: Å
authors.lastname: Fahlman
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Ragnvi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hagman
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala, Sweden.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Edner
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D020926:Medetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011817:Rabbits; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D017409:Sufentanil / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D008738:Methyl Ethers; D000077149:Sevoflurane; D017409:Sufentanil; D020926:Medetomidine; D008874:Midazolam
keywords: ovariohysterectomy; rabbit anaesthesia; sevoflurane; total intravenous anaesthesia sufentanil-midazolam