Partial intravenous anaesthesia in 5 horses using ketamine, lidocaine, medetomidine and halothane.

This study outlines a new protocol for anaesthesia in horses that combines intravenous and inhalation methods, and reports its successful use in five horses.

Introduction

• This research centers on anaesthesia in veterinary practices, more specifically, in horses.
• The objective was to explore a mixed protocol for inducing and maintaining anaesthesia in horses using a combination of intravenous (IV) and inhalation methods. This protocol incorporated various drugs including Ketamine, lidocaine, Medetomidine and halothane.

Methodology

• Five healthy horses were used for this experiment.
• Before anaesthesia, horses were premedicated with a cocktail of drugs: acepromazine, romifidine, and butorphanol. This premedication process is meant to prepare the body for anaesthesia, ensuring that the procedure is safe and effective.
• Anaesthesia induction was then conducted using a combination of guaifenesin and ketamine.
• Afterwards, the anaesthesia was sustained with a constant rate infusion of lidocaine, ketamine, and medetomidine, together with inhalation of halothane.

Results and Observations

• The mean end-tidal halothane concentration required to maintain a surgical plane of anaesthesia turned out to be 0.8 +/- 0.2%.
• In terms of maintaining mean arterial pressure, the mean dobutamine requirement was about 0.42 +/- 0.3 micrograms per kilogram per minute.
• The combination of relatively low doses of lidocaine, ketamine, and medetomidine alongside halothane managed to provide haemodynamically stable anaesthesia.

Conclusion

• The end result of the experimental protocol was successful with all horses experiencing smooth recovery following the anaesthesia.
• The study concludes that the combined use of intravenous drugs with inhalation anaesthesia is effective in inducing and sustaining anaesthesia in horses, while also ensuring stable physiological conditions and good recovery.