title: Comparison of ketamine-dexmedetomidine-methadone and tiletamine-zolazepam-methadone combinations for short-term anaesthesia in domestic pigs.
abstract: Cardiorespiratory effects, quality of induction, depth of anaesthesia and quality of recovery were compared in pigs anaesthetised with 8 mg/kg ketamine, 20 µg/kg dexmedetomidine and 0.2 mg/kg methadone (KDM, n = 18) or 8 mg/kg tiletamine-zolazepam and 0.2 mg/kg methadone (TZM, n = 9). Anaesthesia with KDM was partially reversed in nine animals with 0.2 mg/kg atipamezole (KDMat). Sedation was observed earlier in the TZM group (47.2 ± 25.3 s) than the KDM group (91.5 ± 37.4 s). Sternal and lateral recumbency were achieved earlier in the TZM group (76.3 ± 36.5 s and 132.1 ± 30.5 s, respectively) than in the KDM group (149.1 ± 58.7 s and 249.2 ± 84.0 s, respectively). PaO2, SaO2 and PaO2:FiO2 were lower in the TZM group (68.7 ± 4.1 mmHg, 93.4 ± 1.4% and 327.2 ± 19.9 mmHg, respectively) than in the KDM group (80.4 ± 5.9 mmHg, 95.7 ± 1.0% and 380.4 ± 25.6 mmHg, respectively). Fshunt and P(A-a)O2 were higher in the TZM group (24.0 ± 11.8% and 31.4 ± 3.8 mmHg, respectively) than in the KDM group (13.4 ± 3.2% and 20.7 ± 7.4 mmHg, respectively). Times from drug injection to first head movements, sternal recumbency and standing/walking were significantly shorter in the KDM group (45.1 ± 10.5, 48.4 ± 12.6 and 54.4 ± 17.8 min, respectively) than in the TZM group (57.8 ± 11.4, 93.1 ± 14.2 and 165.7 ± 56.6 min, respectively). The median recovery score was higher in the TZM group than in the KDMnoat and KDMat subgroups. Both drug combinations provided adequate anaesthesia for minor procedures lasting about 30 min, but TZM was associated with a poor recovery and oxygenation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy. Electronic address: valedemo@inwind.it.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: De Monte
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergencies and Organ Transplantation, Section of Veterinary Clinics and Animal Production, University of Bari, Str per Casamassima km3, 70010 Bari, Italy.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Staffieri
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Di Meo
authors.affiliation: Thoracic Surgery Unit, Ospedale Santa Maria della Misericordia Loc. S. Andrea Fratte, 06134, Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vannucci
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Perugia, via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bufalari
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D000818:Animals; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D005260:Female; D007649:Ketamine; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D013552:Swine; D013992:Tiletamine; D013997:Time Factors; D015041:Zolazepam
chemical_list: D019162:Anesthetics, Combined; D013992:Tiletamine; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D007649:Ketamine; D015041:Zolazepam; D008691:Methadone
keywords: Anaesthesia; Ketamine; Oxygenation index; Pig; Tiletamine