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Home / Equine Research Bank / BMC Vet Res / Use of dexmedetomidine repeated subcutaneous administration ...
BMC veterinary research2022; 18(1); 269; doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03350-0

Use of dexmedetomidine repeated subcutaneous administration for balanced anaesthesia in horses.

Abstract: A balanced anaesthetic protocol is a common concept in modern veterinary anaesthesia and aims to maintain good intraoperative cardiopulmonary function. In horses, alpha-2-agonists produce sedation and analgesia and have been shown to reduce inhalational anaesthetic requirements when administered intravenously. Furthermore, these drugs can improve recovery quality. Preliminary investigations of subcutaneous dexmedetomidine administration in humans demonstrated a reduced haemodynamic impact if compared with the intravenous route suggesting that dexmedetomidine is adequately absorbed with both administration routes. The aim of the study was to compare two different dexmedetomidine (DEX) administration routes: intravenous constant rate infusion (CRI) versus repeated subcutaneous (SC) injections on cardiopulmonary function and recovery in anaesthetized horses. Results: No significant differences between groups in heart rate and systolic arterial pressure were detected. A significantly higher mean and diastolic arterial pressure were detected in the SC group at T25 (p = 0.04; p = 0.02), T75 (p = 0.02; p = 0.009), and T85 (p = 0.001; p = 0.005). In SC group there was a significantly lower dobutamine infusion rate (p = 0.03) and a significantly higher urinary output (p = 0.02). Moreover, recovery quality was higher (p = 0.01). Conclusions: Cardiopulmonary effects in both groups were comparable and within clinical ranges with less dobutamine requirement in the subcutaneous group. Recovery was of better quality with fewer attempts in horses receiving subcutaneous dexmedetomidine. The present study suggests that intravenous constant rate infusion and subcutaneous repeated administration of dexmedetomidine at indicated dosage can be useful in balanced anaesthesia without any systemic or local adverse effects; moreover, in healthy horses undergoing general anaesthesia, repeated subcutaneous dexmedetomidine administration may be a suitable alternative if constant rate infusion is not feasible.
© 2022. The Author(s).
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Publication Date: 2022-07-11 PubMed ID: 35818051PubMed Central: PMC9275161DOI: 10.1186/s12917-022-03350-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The study compares the effects of administering dexmedetomidine, a commonly utilized drug in veterinary anesthesia, through intravenous constant rate infusion versus repeated subcutaneous injections in horses. It found that repeated subcutaneous administration could be a valuable alternative, as it showed comparable cardiopulmonary effects and enhanced recovery quality with fewer attempts.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

  • The research aims to test the differences between two modes of administering dexmedetomidine (DEX), an alpha-2-agonist drug used in veterinary anesthesia. The two methods under comparison are: intravenous constant rate infusion (CRI) and repeated subcutaneous (SC) injections.
  • The researchers focused on the impact these methods have on the cardiopulmonary function and recovery of anaesthetized horses. They used parameters such as heart rate, systolic, mean and diastolic arterial pressure, dobutamine infusion rate, urinary output, and recovery quality to assess the results.

Research Findings

  • The researchers found no significant differences in heart rate and systolic arterial pressure between the two groups of horses.
  • A significantly higher mean and diastolic arterial pressure were noted in the group that received subcutaneous dexmedetomidine injections at three specific times (T25, T75, and T85).
  • Horses in the subcutaneous group required lower dobutamine infusion rates and had higher urinary output, indicating less cardiac stress and better kidney function, respectively.
  • Notably, the recovery quality was also higher in the subcutaneous group, suggesting an advantage over intravenous infusion in terms of recovery.

Conclusions of the Study

  • The study concludes that the cardiopulmonary effects of both administration methods were within clinical ranges and comparable, with a notable exception of the subcutaneous group requiring less dobutamine.
  • Recovery, too, was of better quality in the subcutaneous group with fewer attempts needed.
  • The study suggests that both intravenous constant rate infusion and repeated subcutaneous administration of dexmedetomidine can be beneficial for balanced horse anaesthesia, without showing any systemic or local adverse effects.
  • Importantly, repeated subcutaneous dexmedetomidine injections could be a suitable alternative for situations where constant rate infusion is impractical or infeasible.

Cite This Article

APA
Rabbogliatti V, Amari M, Brioschi FA, Di Cesare F, Zani DD, De Zani D, Di Giancamillo M, Cagnardi P, Ravasio G. (2022). Use of dexmedetomidine repeated subcutaneous administration for balanced anaesthesia in horses. BMC Vet Res, 18(1), 269. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12917-022-03350-0

Publication

BMC veterinary research
ISSN: 1746-6148
NlmUniqueID: 101249759
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 18
Issue: 1
Pages: 269
PII: 269

Researcher Affiliations

Rabbogliatti, Vanessa
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Amari, Martina
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Brioschi, Federica Alessandra
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Di Cesare, Federica
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Zani, Davide Danilo
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy.
De Zani, Donatella
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Di Giancamillo, Mauro
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Cagnardi, Petra
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy.
Ravasio, Giuliano
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Sciences, Università Degli Studi Di Milano, Milan, Italy. giuliano.ravasio@unimi.it.

MeSH Terms

  • Anesthesia Recovery Period
  • Anesthesia, General / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Balanced Anesthesia / veterinary
  • Dexmedetomidine
  • Dobutamine
  • Horses
  • Humans
  • Isoflurane

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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