Minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane in dogs administered a single intramuscular injection of racemic or S (+)-ketamine after premedication with acepromazine-morphine

Abstract

The present study evaluated the minimum alveolar concentration of isoflurane (ISOMAC) in twenty three dogs premedicated with acepromazine (0.02mgkg-1) and morphine (0.5mgkg-1) and administered racemic (RK) or S(+)-ketamine (SK). Dogs randomly received a single dose (3mgkg-1, IM) of either RK or SK 15minutes after anesthetic induction with propofol. The ISOMAC was determined by the up-and-down method. Approximately 20 minutes after administration of RK or SK, a surgical noxious stimulus was applied and the response evaluated. The ISOMAC was 0.50±0.01% in the RK group (n=10) and 0.31±0.04% in the SK group (n=13). The ISOMAC was 38% lower in the SK group compared to the RK group. Results of the present study revealed that in dogs premedicated with acepromazine and morphine, IM administration of 3mgkg-1 ketamine approximately 20 minutes before the noxious stimulus produced clinically important reduction in the ISOMAC and the MAC-sparing effect was significantly greater with SK compared to RK.