Cardiovascular, Antinociceptive and Sedative
Effects of Medetomidine Infusion in Sevoflurane Anesthesia in
Puppies
J. Morgaz*,
J. M. Domínguez, R.
Navarrete, J. A.
Fernández-Sarmiento,
P. Muñoz-Rascón, R. J.Gómez-Villamandos and M. M.
Granados
Department of Animal Medicine and Surgery,
University of Córdoba, Campus de Rabanales 14014, Córdoba, Spain
*Corresponding author: v92moroj@uco.es
Abstract
The objective of this study was to determine the
effect of a constant rate infusion of medetomidine in the cortical brain
activity and hemodynamic parameters in sevoflurane anesthetized puppies. Six
puppies of the age of two weeks old were included in the study and were
anaesthetized three times with sevoflurane. On the first anesthesia, each dog’s
minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) for sevoflurane was determined by the use
of the tail clamp method. On the second anesthesia (S) the puppies were
anesthetized at each of five multiples of their individual’s MAC, 0.75, 1, 1.25,
1.5 and 1.75 MAC, and bispectral index and cardiorespiratory parameters were
registered. On the third anesthesia (SM), puppies were anesthetized at each of
five multiples of their individual’s MAC and medetomidine (5 µg/kg + 2µg/kg/h)
was administered. Mild cardiovascular depression was observed in SM in
comparison with S. Cortical and antinociceptive effects were not observed with
medetomidine infusion although a mature EEG response to noxious stimulation
would not have developed in puppies. Central alpha-2 adrenoreceptors would be
immature in puppies during the first two weeks of life, and for this reason,
medetomidine would not produce sedative and analgesic effects in young puppies.
More studies have to be performed to support this statement.