title: Evaluation of the anaesthetic depth during piglet castration under an automated isoflurane-anaesthesia at farm level.
abstract: Piglet castration under isoflurane-anaesthesia could represent an alternative to the practice of castration without anaesthesia. The objective of this study was to evaluate practicality and effectiveness of an automated isoflurane-anaesthesia for castration. A field study on three different farms in Germany (farm A, B: 200 sows; C: 540 sows) was performed. In total, 1429 (1166 anaesthetised and 263 conventionally castrated) male piglets (age: 1-8 days; bodyweight: 0.7-3.7 kg) were monitored. All piglets were treated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs directly before castration. Castration and anaesthesia were performed by the farm-manager in presence of a veterinarian. All farmers used the PIGNAP Pro® (Agrosystems GmbH, CH) anaesthetic device (5 vol.% isoflurane, 30% oxygen; flow rate: 2 l/min). Vocalisation and defensive movements of 1166 anaesthetised piglets was rated using a scoring system. Presence or absence of the palpebral- and flexor-reflex was noted. Approximately every second piglet was weighed and oxygen-saturation and pulse- frequency of 231 animals were measured during treatment. Rectal temperatures before and after castration of 264 anaesthetised and 263 conventionally castrated piglets were compared. Only 77% of the anaesthetised piglets showed a sufficient anaesthetic depth based on the assessment of reflexes as well as vocalisations and defensive movements. It was found that the probability for a sufficient depth of anaesthesia decreases with increasing age and weight. The measurements of the pulse-frequency and oxygen-saturation showed an average oxygen-saturation of 98% and an average heart rate of 270/min during anaesthesia. The conventionally castrated piglets had significantly higher rectal temperatures in comparison to the anaesthetised (p < 0.0001). The result of 77% sufficiently anaesthetised piglets is not adequate for commercial application of this technology.
authors.forename: Cornelia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Schwennen
authors.forename: Nina
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kolbaum
authors.forename: Karl-Heinz
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Waldmann
authors.forename: Doris
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Höltig
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000769:Anesthesia, Inhalation / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000592:standards / Q000662:veterinary*; D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001831:Body Temperature; D001835:Body Weight; D006234:Handling, Psychological; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D009330:Nebulizers and Vaporizers / Q000592:standards; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D011674:Pulse; D013552:Swine / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D007530:Isoflurane