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Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2015; 57(1); 21; doi: 10.1186/s13028-015-0112-4

Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of S-ketamine for intravenous general anaesthesia in horses undergoing field castration.

Abstract: Intravenous anaesthetic drugs are the primary means for producing general anaesthesia in equine practice. The ideal drug for intravenous anaesthesia has high reliability and pharmacokinetic properties indicating short elimination and lack of accumulation when administered for prolonged periods. Induction of general anaesthesia with racemic ketamine preceded by profound sedation has already an established place in the equine field anaesthesia. Due to potential advantages over racemic ketamine, S-ketamine has been employed in horses to induce general anaesthesia, but its optimal dose remains under investigation. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether 2.5 mg/kg S-ketamine could be used as a single intravenous bolus to provide short-term surgical anaesthesia in colts undergoing surgical castration, and to report its pharmacokinetic profile. Results: After premedication with romifidine and L-methadone, the combination of S-ketamine and diazepam allowed reaching surgical anaesthesia in the 28 colts. Induction of anaesthesia as well as recovery were good to excellent in the majority (n = 22 and 24, respectively) of the colts. Seven horses required additional administration of S-ketamine to prolong the duration of surgical anaesthesia. Redosing did not compromise recovery quality. Plasma concentration of S-ketamine decreased rapidly after administration, following a two-compartmental model, leading to the hypothesis of a consistent unchanged elimination of the parent compound into the urine beside its conversion to S-norketamine. The observed plasma concentrations of S-ketamine at the time of first movement were various and did not support the definition of a clear cut-off value to predict the termination of the drug effect. Conclusions: The administration of 2.5 mg/kg IV S-ketamine after adequate premedication provided good quality of induction and recovery and a duration of action similar to what has been reported for racemic ketamine at the dose of 2.2 mg/kg. Until further investigations will be provided, close monitoring to adapt drug delivery is mandatory, particularly once the first 10 minutes after injection are elapsed. Taking into account rapid elimination of S-ketamine, significant inter-individual variability and rapid loss of effect over a narrow range of concentrations a sudden return of consciousness has to be foreseen.
Publication Date: 2015-05-03 PubMed ID: 25935721PubMed Central: PMC4432908DOI: 10.1186/s13028-015-0112-4Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Clinical Trial
  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

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The study investigates the effectiveness of using an intravenous dose of 2.5mg/kg S-ketamine for general anaesthesia in horses during field castration, and the associated pharmacokinetic profile. It concluded that this dosage provided good induction and recovery and a duration of action close to that of racemic ketamine.

Research Objectives and Methodology

  • The goal of the study was to ascertain if S-ketamine could provide short-term surgical anaesthesia for horses undergoing field castration with a single 2.5 mg/kg IV dose.
  • The research team also aimed to study the pharmacokinetic profile of S-ketamine, focusing on the onset, duration, and end of the anaesthetic effect.
  • The study involved 28 colts, each premedicated with romifidine and L-methadone. After this premedication, S-ketamine and diazepam were used to induce general anaesthesia.

Findings of Study

  • Most of the colts (22 and 24, respectively) showed good to excellent induction of anaesthesia and recovery.
  • Additional administration of S-ketamine was required in seven horses to prolong the surgical anaesthesia duration, without compromising recovery quality.
  • Plasma concentration of S-ketamine fell quickly after administration, suggesting the substance is quickly transformed into S-norketamine and eliminated via urine.
  • The study could not identify a clear cut-off value to predict termination of S-ketamine’s drug effect, as plasma concentrations were varied.

Conclusions

  • The administration of 2.5 mg/kg IV S-ketamine after adequate premedication resulted in good induction and recovery quality, similar to that achieved with racemic ketamine at the dose of 2.2 mg/kg.
  • Due to the rapid elimination of S-ketamine and the determination that its efficiency differs significantly among individuals, it’s critical to monitor the patient meticulously, especially after the first 10 minutes post-injection.
  • Given the fast loss of S-ketamine’s effect at a narrow range of concentrations, an abrupt return of consciousness should be expected.

Cite This Article

APA
Casoni D, Spadavecchia C, Wampfler B, Thormann W, Levionnois OL. (2015). Clinical and pharmacokinetic evaluation of S-ketamine for intravenous general anaesthesia in horses undergoing field castration. Acta Vet Scand, 57(1), 21. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-015-0112-4

Publication

ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 57
Issue: 1
Pages: 21
PII: 21

Researcher Affiliations

Casoni, Daniela
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Therapy Division, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science of the Vetsuisse Faculty of Berne, Länggassstrasse 124, CH-3012, Berne, Switzerland. daniela.casoni@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.
Spadavecchia, Claudia
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Therapy Division, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science of the Vetsuisse Faculty of Berne, Länggassstrasse 124, CH-3012, Berne, Switzerland. claudia.spadavecchia@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.
Wampfler, Beat
  • Nationales Pferdezentrum Bern, Mingerstrasse 3, CH-3000, Berne, Switzerland. beat.wampfler@bluewin.ch.
Thormann, Wolfgang
  • Clinical Pharmacology Laboratory, Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Berne, Murtenstrasse 35, CH-3010, Bern, Switzerland. wolfgang.thormann@ifik.unibe.ch.
Levionnois, Olivier L
  • Anesthesiology and Pain Therapy Division, Department of Veterinary Clinical Science of the Vetsuisse Faculty of Berne, Länggassstrasse 124, CH-3012, Berne, Switzerland. olivier.levionnois@vetsuisse.unibe.ch.

MeSH Terms

  • Anesthesia, General / veterinary
  • Anesthesia, Intravenous / veterinary
  • Anesthetics, Intravenous / administration & dosage
  • Anesthetics, Intravenous / pharmacokinetics
  • Animals
  • Horses / metabolism
  • Horses / surgery
  • Ketamine / administration & dosage
  • Ketamine / pharmacokinetics
  • Male
  • Orchiectomy / veterinary
  • Prospective Studies

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Chen J, Zou X, Hu B, Yang Y, Wang F, Zhou Q, Shen M. Effect of different doses of esketamine compared with fentanyl combined with propofol on hypotension in patients undergoing painless abortion surgery: a prospective, randomized, double-blind controlled clinical trial.. BMC Anesthesiol 2022 Sep 28;22(1):305.
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  2. Wise IK, Klöppel H, Leece EA. Comparison of two doses of ketamine for induction of anaesthesia in ponies undergoing field castration.. Open Vet J 2021 Oct-Dec;11(4):747-754.
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  3. Gozalo-Marcilla M, Ringer SK. Recovery after General Anaesthesia in Adult Horses: A Structured Summary of the Literature.. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 14;11(6).
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