Evaluation of Sevoflurane Anesthesia in Donkeys (Equus asinus) Premedicated With Xylazine and Induced With Thiopental.

The research article discusses a study conducted to evaluate the effects of the anesthetic agent Sevoflurane in adult healthy donkeys.

Study Procedure

• The study involves six healthy adult male donkeys.
• These donkeys were premedicated with another drug called xylazine and induced with a third drug, thiopental.
• Maintenance of the anesthesia was done by administering Sevoflurane for 90 minutes, with the donkeys breathing in pure oxygen at a rate of 6 liters per minute.
• Throughout the procedure, multiple physiological indicators were monitored in the donkeys, such as rectal temperature, respiratory rate, heart rate, oxygen hemoglobin saturation, and mean arterial blood pressure.
• The above measurements were taken at different intervals: before the administration of xylazine, 20 minutes after xylazine was given, 10 minutes post thiopental injection and then continuously every ten minutes until recovery.

Measurements and Observations

• The time taken for various signs of recovery to appear, the total duration of recovery, and the quality of recovery were also recorded.
• Jugular blood samples were taken to analyze complete blood counts and venous blood gases, including concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
• Other parameters measured in the venous blood were sodium, potassium, calcium, lactate, bicarbonate, and glucose concentrations.

Results and Conclusion

• The results showed that during anesthesia with Sevoflurane, there were significant decreases in heart rate, mean arterial blood pressure, rectal temperature, red blood corpuscles, hematocrit, total white blood cells, neutrophils, and lymphocytes.
• On the contrary, oxygen hemoglobin saturation level and glucose levels significantly increased.
• The levels of venous blood oxygen, carbon dioxide, and lactate significantly increased, while pH significantly decreased.
• Calcium levels significantly dropped immediately during the recovery process after anesthesia.
• The donkeys resumed sternal recumbency and standing roughly 15.8 and 28.2 minutes respectively after the vaporizer was shut off, indicating a relatively rapid and good quality recovery.
• The study concludes that Sevoflurane seems to be a safe and effective anesthesia for donkeys, with fast induction and recovery times.