title: Effects of a medetomidine-midazolam-butorphanol combination on renal cortical, intestinal and muscle microvascular blood flow in isoflurane anaesthetized dogs: a laser Doppler study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To obtain renal cortical, ileal, colonic and skeletal muscle microvascular blood flow measurements in dogs using the laser Doppler technique and to characterize the effects of medetomidine-midazolam-butorphanol combination on these flows.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective randomized experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen clinically normal beagles (two groups of seven), aged 1-4 years and weighing 13.2 ± 1.8 kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  All dogs were anaesthetized with 1.7% end-tidal isoflurane in oxygen. In the treatment group, after instrumentation and when anaesthesia was considered stable, medetomidine (1 mg m-2body surface area (BSA)) was administered intramuscularly (time 0). Midazolam (1 mg kg-1) and butorphanol (0.1 mg kg-1) were administered intravenously 20 minutes later. Atipamezole (2.5 mg m-2BSA) was administered intramuscularly 60 minutes after medetomidine. In the control group, saline (0.5, 2.5 and 0.25 mL) was administered at the corresponding times. Heart rate, systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures, body temperature, renal cortical, ileal, colonic and skeletal muscle microvascular blood flows were measured before time 0, and 5, 15, 25, 40, 60, 65, 70 and 90 minutes thereafter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Heart rate, ileal and skeletal muscle blood flows decreased in the treatment group, while no changes were observed in the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Laser Doppler flowmetry allowed the measurement of microvascular blood flow in different organs. The medetomidine-midazolam-butorphanol combination decreases intestinal and skeletal muscle microvascular blood flows, while renal cortical blood flow is maintained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Medetomidine-midazolam-butorphanol combination can be used to induce a short duration anaesthesia in dogs, but it will induce cardiovascular depression. This depression appears to be accompanied by a redistribution of blood flow.
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: Bruno H
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Pypendop
authors.affiliation: Department of Small Animal Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Liege, Liege, Belgium.
authors.forename: John P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Verstegen
keywords: Anaesthesia; butorphanol; laser Doppler; medetomidine; midazolam; organ blood flow