title: Alfaxalone for total intravenous anaesthesia in bitches undergoing elective caesarean section and its effects on puppies: a randomized clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effects and reliability of alfaxalone constant rate infusion (CRI) in comparison to isoflurane to maintain anaesthesia in bitches undergoing elective caesarean section.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized, 'blinded' clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-two client-owned bitches and 94 puppies.
  
  
  METHODS
  Bitches were randomly assigned to receive an alfaxalone CRI [0.2 mg kg(-1)  minute(-1) intravenously (IV), and once the last puppy was delivered, the dose was halved; n = 11] or 2% (vaporizer dial setting) isoflurane (n = 11) for maintenance of anaesthesia. All dogs were induced with alfaxalone (3 mg kg(-1) ) IV. Additional alfaxalone (0.3 mg kg(-1) IV) was administered if the depth of anaesthesia was inadequate and the total dose was calculated. Bitches were mechanically ventilated. Analgesia was administered after the delivery of puppies. Physiological variables were recorded every 5 minutes. The bitches' recovery times were also recorded. Quality of induction and recovery were evaluated. Puppies' vigour was evaluated with a modified Apgar score at 5 and 60 minutes after birth. Puppies' survival rates at 24 and 48 hours and at 15 days were recorded. Data were analysed using an anova, Student's t-test or Wilcoxon rank-sum test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rescue dose of alfaxalone was higher (p = 0.01); bitches' recoveries were longer (p < 0.001) and puppies' Apgar scores were significantly lower at 5 and 60 minutes (p < 0.001 and p = 0.003, respectively) with alfaxalone than with isoflurane. However, no significant differences were found for puppies' survival between groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alfaxalone CRI seems to be a possible protocol for puppies and bitches undergoing elective caesarean sections. However, bitches recovered more slowly and puppy Apgar scores were lower in comparison to isoflurane.
authors.affiliation: Section of Anaesthesiology, Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: Clara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Conde Ruiz
authors.affiliation: Section of Biotechnology and Theriogenology, CERREC & CRB-ANIM, Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup 1, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: Andrea P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Del Carro
authors.affiliation: Section of Biotechnology and Theriogenology, CERREC & CRB-ANIM, Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup 1, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rosset
authors.affiliation: Section of Anaesthesiology, Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: Emilie
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Guyot
authors.affiliation: Section of Anaesthesiology, Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Maroiller
authors.affiliation: Section of Biotechnology and Theriogenology, CERREC & CRB-ANIM, Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup 1, Marcy l'Etoile, France.
authors.forename: Samuel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Buff
authors.affiliation: Section of Anaesthesiology, Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy l'Etoile, France.|INSERM, UMR-1060, CarMeN, Lyon, France.
authors.forename: Karine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Portier
mesh_terms: D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D011247:Pregnancy; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome / Q000662:veterinary; D011277:Pregnanediones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D016037:Single-Blind Method
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D011277:Pregnanediones; C006477:alphaxalone
keywords: Apgar score; alfaxalone; bitch; caesarean section; total intravenous anaesthesia