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Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)2020; 258; 105455; doi: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2020.105455

Sympathomimetics in veterinary species under anesthesia.

Abstract: Sympathomimetic drugs mimic the physiological action of the sympathetic nervous system through interaction with adrenergic receptors. These drugs are commonly used to provide cardiovascular support in many veterinary species. Despite their common use, the literature evaluating their effectiveness can be somewhat limited depending on the species. This review details the mechanism of action of various sympathomimetic drugs and summarizes the literature that is available describing the efficacy of these drugs and their use in anesthetized veterinary species.
Publication Date: 2020-04-28 PubMed ID: 32564865DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2020.105455Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Review

Summary

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The study explores the use of sympathomimetic drugs – compounds that mimic the effects of the sympathetic nervous system – in anesthetized animals. It reviews the effectiveness of these drugs across various species, acknowledging that the available research may vary.

Mechanisms of Sympathomimetic Drugs

  • The initial part of the study discusses the way sympathomimetic drugs function. They reproduce the action of the sympathetic nervous system by interacting with adrenergic receptors – receptors responsive to adrenaline.
  • In the body, these drugs trigger a physiological response similar to situations of stress or excitement, such as increased heart rate, increased blood pressure, and dilated pupils.
  • Through activating these responses, sympathomimetic drugs provide support to the cardiovascular system, boosting heart performance, and blood circulation.

Usage in Veterinary Medicine

  • These drugs are frequently utilized in veterinary medicine to bolster cardiovascular function in animals under anesthesia.
  • Anesthesia can bring about dramatic drops in blood pressure and heart performance. Thus, veterinary practitioners use sympathomimetics to maintain these vital functions.

Review of Existing Literature

  • The review includes a summary of the existing literature that studies the efficiency of these drugs in anesthetized animals.
  • It points out that the amount and depth of research may fluctuate broadly depending on the species, resulting in some gaps in our understanding of the extensive application of such medications.

Summary of Reviewed Efficacy

  • The research present in the abstract offers an overview of the productivity of these drugs as derived from past studies and literature. This aims to contribute to an improved comprehension of sympathomimetic medication usage in veterinary practice, especially during anesthesia.

Cite This Article

APA
Skelding AM, Valverde A. (2020). Sympathomimetics in veterinary species under anesthesia. Vet J, 258, 105455. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tvjl.2020.105455

Publication

ISSN: 1532-2971
NlmUniqueID: 9706281
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 258
Pages: 105455
PII: S1090-0233(20)30032-0

Researcher Affiliations

Skelding, Alicia M
  • Toronto Animal Health Partners Emergency and Specialty Hospital, 1 Scarsdale Rd, North York, ON M3B 2R2, Canada. Electronic address: alicia.skelding@gmail.com.
Valverde, Alexander
  • Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Gordon St and College Ave W, Guelph, ON N1G 2W1, Canada.

MeSH Terms

  • Anesthesia / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Cardiovascular Physiological Phenomena / drug effects
  • Cats / physiology
  • Dobutamine / pharmacology
  • Dogs / physiology
  • Dopamine / pharmacology
  • Horses / physiology
  • Norepinephrine / pharmacology
  • Sympathetic Nervous System / physiology
  • Sympathomimetics / pharmacology

Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Henao-Guerrero N, Ricco-Pereira CH, Paranjape VV. A Comparison of Dobutamine, Norepinephrine, Vasopressin, and Hetastarch for the Treatment of Isoflurane-Induced Hypotension in Healthy, Normovolemic Dogs. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 19;13(16).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13162674pubmed: 37627465google scholar: lookup
  2. Valverde A. Fluid Resuscitation for Refractory Hypotension. Front Vet Sci 2021;8:621696.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2021.621696pubmed: 33778035google scholar: lookup
  3. Varzandeh P, Mosallanejad B, Imani Rastabi H, Razi Jalali M, Fatemi Tabatabaei SR. Evaluation of Hemodynamic Changes in Normovolemic Hypotensive Dogs Treated With Fluids Alone or in Combination With Ephedrine or Dobutamine. Vet Med Sci 2026 Jan;12(1):e70708.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.70708pubmed: 41306068google scholar: lookup
  4. Zapata A, Serra Aguado CI, Redondo JI, Soto Muñoz JR, Sansano-Maestre J, Fernández-Parra R. Cardiovascular Effects of Adding Adrenaline to Arthroscopic Knee Irrigation Fluid in Canine Diagnostic Procedures. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 25;15(11).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15111544pubmed: 40509010google scholar: lookup