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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Sci / Total Intravenous Anaesthesia with Ketamine, Medetomidine an...
Veterinary sciences2021; 8(8); 142; doi: 10.3390/vetsci8080142

Total Intravenous Anaesthesia with Ketamine, Medetomidine and Midazolam as Part of a Balanced Anaesthesia Technique in Horses Undergoing Castration.

Abstract: To evaluate the use of ketamine-medetomidine-midazolam total intravenous infusion as part of a balanced anaesthetic technique for surgical castration in horses. Five healthy Standardbred cross colts were premedicated with IV acepromazine (0.01-0.02 mg/kg), medetomidine (7 µg/kg) and methadone (0.1 mg/kg) and anaesthesia induced with IV ketamine (2.2 mg/kg) and midazolam (0.06 mg/kg). Horses were anaesthetised for 40 min with an IV infusion of ketamine (3 mg/kg/h), medetomidine (5 µg/kg/h) and midazolam (0.1 mg/kg/h) while routine surgical castration was performed. Cardiorespiratory variables, arterial blood gases, and anaesthetic depth were assessed at 5 to 10 min intervals. Post-anaesthesia recovery times were recorded, and the quality of the recovery period was assessed. The anaesthetic period and surgical conditions were acceptable with good muscle relaxation and no additional anaesthetic required. The median (range) time from cessation of the infusion to endotracheal tube extubation, head lift and sternal recumbency were 17.2 (7-35) min, 25 (18.9-53) min and 28.1 (23-54) min, respectively. The quality of anaesthetic recovery was good, with horses standing 31.9 (28-61) min after the infusion was ceased. During anaesthesia, physiological variables, presented as a range of median values for each time point were: heart rate 37-44 beats/min, mean arterial pressure 107-119 mmHg, respiratory rate 6-13 breaths/min, arterial partial pressure of oxygen 88-126 mmHg, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide 52-57 mmHg and pH 7.36-7.39. In conclusion, the co-administration of midazolam, ketamine and medetomidine as in IV infusion, when used as part of a balanced anaesthetic technique, was suitable for short term anaesthesia in horses undergoing castration.
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Publication Date: 2021-07-26 PubMed ID: 34437464PubMed Central: PMC8402790DOI: 10.3390/vetsci8080142Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The study evaluates the application of a specific cocktail of drugs delivered as total intravenous anesthesia for the surgical castration of horses, highlighting its viability, recovery periods, and effect on physiological variables.

Research Methodology

  • The study had a sample of five healthy Standardbred cross colts.
  • The colts were premedicated with intravenous (IV) acepromazine, medetomidine, and methadone at specified dosages.
  • Anesthesia was then induced with intravenous ketamine and midazolam.
  • The horses were under anaesthesia for 40 minutes using an IV infusion of a mixture of ketamine, medetomidine, and midazolam while surgical castration was done.
  • Parameters such as cardiorespiratory variables, arterial blood gases, and anaesthetic depth were observed at 5 to 10 minutes intervals to monitor the effect of the anesthesia on the horses.
  • Additionally, the post-anaesthesia recovery times were recorded, and the quality of the recovery period was examined.

Findings

  • The anaesthetic period and surgical conditions were deemed acceptable with good muscle relaxation, suggesting the ketamine-medetomidine-midazolam infusion was effective.
  • The median times from cessation of the infusion to different stages of recovery (endotracheal tube extubation, head lift, sternal recumbency) were recorded. The horses stood about 32 minutes after the infusion was halted.
  • Physiological variables such as heart rate, mean arterial pressure, respiratory rate, arterial partial pressure of oxygen, arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide, and pH were within safe ranges, suggesting that the anaesthesia did not have adverse physiological effects.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that the co-administration of midazolam, ketamine, and medetomidine in an IV infusion is suitable for short term anaesthesia in horses undergoing castration.
  • The mixture appears to balance the anaesthetic depth whilst maintaining stable physiological conditions, providing good muscle relaxation, requiring no additional anaesthetic, and enabling satisfactory post-anaesthesia recovery times.

Cite This Article

APA
Cunneen A, Pratt S, Perkins N, McEwen M, Truchetti G, Rainger J, Farry T, Kidd L, Goodwin W. (2021). Total Intravenous Anaesthesia with Ketamine, Medetomidine and Midazolam as Part of a Balanced Anaesthesia Technique in Horses Undergoing Castration. Vet Sci, 8(8), 142. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci8080142

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 8
Issue: 8
PII: 142

Researcher Affiliations

Cunneen, Alexandra
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
Pratt, Shaun
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
Perkins, Nigel
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
McEwen, Margaret
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
Truchetti, Geoffrey
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
Rainger, Joanne
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
Farry, Trish
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
Kidd, Lisa
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.
Goodwin, Wendy
  • School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, QLD 4343, Australia.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript, or in the decision to publish the results.

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