Neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium bromide for ophthalmic surgery in horses.
Abstract: The production of a central eye to ease surgical access for intraocular surgery is generally dependent on the depth of anesthesia. The aim of this study was to evaluate the eyeball position under muscle relaxation with rocuronium during general anesthesia. Methods: Twenty horses, body weight 480 ± 62 kg; age 12.6 ± 6.2 years (mean ± SD) were anesthetised for various ophthalmic surgeries. Horses were premedicated with acepromazine, xylazine, and butorphanol intravenously and anesthesia induced with ketamine and diazepam. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen and 0.6 mL/kg/h of an infusion containing midazolam, ketamine, and xylazine diluted in 500 mL 0.9% NaCl. Horses were mechanically ventilated. Neuromuscular function was assessed with an acceleromyograph (TOF-Guard®) and the N. peroneus superficialis was stimulated every 15 s with a train-of-four stimulation pattern. A dose of 0.3 mg/kg rocuronium was administered intravenously. The changes in the eyeball position were recorded. Results: The dose of 0.3 mg/kg rocuronium produced a 100% neuromuscular block in all horses. Onset time and clinical duration of block was 2.38 ± 2.02 min (range 0.5-8) and 32 ± 18.6 min (range 7.7-76.2), respectively. The globe rotated to central position within 31 ± 2.8 s. The whole iris was visible after 42 ± 7.7 s in all horses. No additional bolus of rocuronium was necessary for any surgery. Conclusions: Neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium bromide can be used safely to facilitate ophthalmic surgery in equines.
© 2011 American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
Publication Date: 2011-04-18 PubMed ID: 21733065DOI: 10.1111/j.1463-5224.2010.00870.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
Summary
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This study examined the effectiveness of rocuronium bromide, a muscle relaxant, in positioning the eyeball centrally to facilitate ophthalmic surgery in horses. The results showed that rocuronium bromide can be safely used for intraocular surgeries in horses without the need for an additional dose.
Research Methodology
- Twenty horses of varied ages and with an average body weight of 480 ± 62 kg were used for the research.
- The horses were premedicated with acepromazine, xylazine, and butorphanol intravenously.
- Anesthesia was first induced with ketamine and diazepam, and then maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen and an infusion containing midazolam, ketamine, and xylazine diluted in 500 mL of 0.9% sodium chloride.
- All the horses were mechanically ventilated during the process.
- Assessment of neuromuscular function was done using an acceleromyograph, a device used to measure the force produced by the muscle after a nerve stimulation.
- A dose of 0.3 mg/kg of rocuronium was administered to each horse intravenously.
- The changes in eyeball position were recorded.
Research Findings
- A dose of 0.3 mg/kg rocuronium produced a 100% neuromuscular block in all the horses.
- The onset time for the drug to take effect varied between 0.5 to 8 minutes, with an average time of 2.38 ± 2.02 minutes.
- The clinical duration of the block also varied, ranging from 7.7 to 76.2 minutes with an average duration of 32 ± 18.6 minutes.
- Eye rotation to a central position was observed within an average time of 31 ± 2.8 seconds.
- The whole iris was visible after an average time of 42 ± 7.7 seconds in all horses.
- No additional dose of rocuronium was necessary for any of the surgeries.
Conclusion
The research concluded that neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium bromide is a safe and effective method to facilitate ophthalmic surgery in horses. It helped achieve a central eyeball position and displayed a robust neuromuscular blocking effect without the need for additional doses.
Cite This Article
APA
Auer U, Moens Y.
(2011).
Neuromuscular blockade with rocuronium bromide for ophthalmic surgery in horses.
Vet Ophthalmol, 14(4), 244-247.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1463-5224.2010.00870.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Perioperative Intensive Care, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria. ulrike.auer@vetmeduni.ac.at
MeSH Terms
- Androstanols / pharmacology
- Animals
- Eye Diseases / surgery
- Eye Diseases / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Neuromuscular Blockade / veterinary
- Neuromuscular Blocking Agents / pharmacology
- Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures / veterinary
- Rocuronium
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Pedersen K, Kruhøffer LL, Lykkesfeldt J, Kousholt BS. Comparison of the neuromuscular effects of two infusion rates of rocuronium in anesthetized pigs. Acta Vet Scand 2022 Dec 15;64(1):38.
- Tutunaru A, Dupont J, Gougnard A, Ida K, Serteyn D, Sandersen C. Retrospective evaluation of clinical use of cis-atracurium in horses. PLoS One 2019;14(8):e0221196.
- Lorenzutti AM, Martin-Flores M, Baldivieso JM, Himelfarb MA, Litterio NJ. Evaluation of neostigmine antagonism at different levels of vecuronium-induced neuromuscular blockade in isoflurane anesthetized dogs. Can Vet J 2014 Feb;55(2):156-60.
- Nowak M, Johnson S, Simeone C, Canales R, Huguet-Baudin E, Mosing M. Sugammadex and Acceleromyography Used During a Lensectomy in a Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus). Animals (Basel) 2025 Sep 28;15(19).
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