title: Behavioral and cardiopulmonary effects of dexmedetomidine alone and in combination with butorphanol, methadone, morphine or tramadol in conscious sheep.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare cardiopulmonary and sedative effects following administration of dexmedetomidine alone or with butorphanol, methadone, morphine or tramadol in healthy sheep.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized crossover study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six Santa Inês sheep, five females, one male, aged 12-28 months and weighing 40.1 ± 6.2 kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sheep were assigned treatments of dexmedetomidine (0.005 mg kg(-1) ; D); D and butorphanol (0.15 mg kg(-1) ; DB); D and methadone (0.5 mg kg(-1) ; DM); D and morphine (0.5 mg kg(-1) ; DMO); or D and tramadol (5.0 mg kg(-1) ; DT). All drugs were administered intravenously with at least 7 days between each treatment. Rectal temperature, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (fR ), invasive arterial pressure, blood gases and electrolytes were measured prior to administration of drugs (baseline, T0) and every 15 minutes following drug administration for 120 minutes (T15-T120). Sedation was scored by three observers blinded to treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  HR decreased in all treatments and fR decreased in DM at T30 and DMO at T30 and T45. PaCO2 was increased in D, DB and DM compared with baseline, and PaO2 decreased in D at T15 and T45; in DB at T15 to T75; in DM at T15 to T60; in DMO at T15; and in DT at T15, T30 and T75. There was a decrease in temperature in D, DB and DM. An increased pH was measured in D at all time points and in DT at T30-T120. HCO3- and base excess were increased in all treatments compared with baseline. There were no statistical differences in sedation scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The combination of dexmedetomidine with butorphanol, methadone, morphine or tramadol resulted in similar changes in cardiopulmonary function and did not improve sedation when compared with dexmedetomidine alone.
authors: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Franca, Franca, Brazil.
authors: Luisa Pb
authors: LP
authors: Borges
authors: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Franca, Franca, Brazil.
authors: Lilian T
authors: LT
authors: Nishimura
authors: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Franca, Franca, Brazil.
authors: Leonardo L
authors: LL
authors: Carvalho
authors: School of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, UNESP-Botucatu, Botucatu, Brazil.
authors: Sofia A
authors: SA
authors: Cerejo
authors: School of Veterinary Medicine, College of Medical Veterinary & Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland.
authors: Adam
authors: A
authors: Auckburally
authors: School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Franca, Franca, Brazil.
authors: Ewaldo
authors: E
authors: Mattos-Junior
mesh_terms: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D054810:Deep Sedation; D020927:Dexmedetomidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D012756:Sheep; D014147:Tramadol / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D014147:Tramadol; D020927:Dexmedetomidine; D009020:Morphine; D002077:Butorphanol; D008691:Methadone
keywords: cardiopulmonary; opioids; ovine; α2-agonists