Clinicophysiological and haemodynamic effects of fentanyl with xylazine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine in isoflurane-anaesthetised water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

• Published in: Journal of the South African Veterinary Association Vol. 84; no. 1; p. E1
• Main Authors: Singh, Gyan D, Kinjavdekar, Prakash, Amarpal, Aithal, Hari P, Pawde, Abhijeet M, Zama, Malik M S, Singh, Jasmeet, Tiwary, Ramesh
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: South Africa African Online Scientific Information Systems (Pty) Ltd t/a AOSIS 01-01-2013; AOSIS (Pty) Ltd
• Subjects: Adjuvants, Anesthesia - administration & dosage; Adjuvants, Anesthesia - pharmacology; African buffalo; Analgesics; Anesthesia, Inhalation - veterinary; Anesthetics, Inhalation - administration & dosage; Anesthetics, Inhalation - pharmacology; Animal anesthesia; Animals; Buffaloes; Dexmedetomidine - administration & dosage; Dexmedetomidine - pharmacology; Dosage and administration; Drug interactions; Fentanyl - administration & dosage; Fentanyl - pharmacology; Health aspects; Heart Rate - drug effects; Hypnotics; Hypnotics and Sedatives - administration & dosage; Hypnotics and Sedatives - pharmacology; Isoflurane - administration & dosage; Isoflurane - pharmacology; Male; Medetomidine - administration & dosage; Medetomidine - pharmacology; Respiration - drug effects; Sedatives; Treatment outcome; Veterinary drugs; South Africa
• ISSN: 1019-9128; 2224-9435
• DOI: 10.4102/jsava.v84i1.67

The present study was undertaken to investigate the sedative, analgesic and clinical effects of xylazine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine with fentanyl as pre-anaesthetics in water buffaloes and to compare the dose-sparing effect of xylazine, medetomidine and dexmedetomidine on thiopental for induction and isoflurane for maintenance of anaesthesia in water buffaloes. Six male water buffaloes randomly received intravenous fentanyl (5.0 µg/kg body weight) and xylazine (0.05 mg/kg body weight), fentanyl (5.0 µg/kg body weight) and medetomidine (2.5 µg/kg body weight), fentanyl (5.0 µg/kg body weight) and dexmedetomidine (5.0 µg/kg body weight) at weekly intervals in groups I1, I2 and I3, respectively. After 15 min, the animals were restrained in right lateral recumbency and anaesthesia was induced by 5% thiopental sodium administered intravenously. The intubated animal was connected to the large animal anaesthesia machine and isoflurane in 100% oxygen (5 L/min) was insufflated for 60 min. The treatments were compared by clinicophysiological, haematobiochemical and haemodynamic parameters. Fentanyl-medetomidine and fentanyl-dexmedetomidine produced more cardiovascular depression during the pre-anaesthetic period but less depression of cardio-respiratory dynamics in the post induction and maintenance period. Quicker recovery was recorded in I2 and I3 groups. A lower dose of thiopental was required in group I3 (4.33 mg/kg ± 0.66 mg/kg) than in groups I2 (4.41 mg/kg ± 0.98 mg/kg) and I1 (4.83 mg/kg ± 0.79 mg/kg). The dose of isoflurane was less in group I3 (45.50 mL ± 5.45 mL) than in group I1 and I2 (48.66 mL ± 5.10 mL and 48.00 mL ± 6.38 mL). Better anaesthesia was recorded with fentanyl-dexmedetomidine-thiopental-isoflurane (group I3) than with fentanyl-medetomidine-thiopental-isoflurane (group I2) and fentanyl-xylazine-thiopental-isoflurane (group I1). Fentanyl-medetomidine and fentanyl-dexmedetomidine were better pre-anaesthetic agents in comparison to fentanyl-xylazine for thiopental and isoflurane anaesthesia. Fentanyl-dexmedetomidine-thiopental-isoflurane and fentanyl-medetomidine-thiopental-isoflurane produced effective surgical anaesthesia and were found to be safe, as cardio-pulmonary functions were well preserved during maintenance anaesthesia with no deleterious effect on vital organ functions in water buffaloes.