A clinical trial of three anaesthetic regimens for the castration of ponies

Abstract

After premedication with intravenous xylazine 30 ponies were anaesthetised for castration under field conditions with intravenous ketamine, thiopentone or methohexitone. The duration of anaesthesia was adequate for surgery and the times taken to stand were similar in each group. The recovery of the ponies after ketamine was quieter than after either of the barbiturates and this may be an advantage when skilled assistance is lacking. However, all the anaesthetics appeared to be suitable for performing minor surgery in the field.

Comparison of alfaxalone, ketamine and thiopental for anaesthetic induction and recovery in Thoroughbred horses premedicated with medetomidine and midazolam

“…Dosages of ketamine and thiopental in the current study were selected based on published values , and these dosages have been routinely used in our clinical practice. However, dosage of alfaxalone was based on the results of preliminary experimental studies at our institute.…”

“…However, excitement, transient ataxia, and muscular tremors and rigidity during the recovery phase can occur with intravenous ketamine . Thiopental is an ultrashort‐acting barbiturate, which also produces rapid and smooth induction in properly premedicated horses . Although it is no longer commercially available in some countries, it is still used as an induction agent in equine anaesthesia.…”

Recovery after General Anaesthesia in Adult Horses: A Structured Summary of the Literature

“…(1) A clinical trial of three anaesthetic regimens for the castration of ponies [94] (2) A comparison of xylazine-diazepam-ketamine and xylazine-guaifenesin-ketamine in equine anesthesia [95] (3) Evaluation of propofol as a general anesthetic for horses [96] (4) Comparison of thiopentone/guaifenesin, ketamine/guaifenesin and ketamine/midazolam for the induction of horses to be anaesthetised with isoflurane [97] (5) Behavioral responses following eight anesthetic induction protocols in horses [98] (6) Evaluation of different doses of propofol in xylazine pre-medicated horses [99] (7) Comparison of high (5%) and low (1%) concentrations of micellar microemulsion propofol formulations with a standard (1%) lipid emulsion in horses [100] (8) Alfaxalone compared with ketamine for induction of anaesthesia in horses following xylazine and guaifenesin [101] (9) Effects of ketamine, propofol, or thiopental administration on intraocular pressure and qualities of induction of and recovery from anesthesia in horses [102] (10) Comparison of midazolam and diazepam as co-induction agents with ketamine for anaesthesia in sedated ponies undergoing field castration [103] (11) Comparison of alfaxalone, ketamine and thiopental for anaesthetic induction and recovery in Thoroughbred horses premedicated with medetomidine and midazolam [104] (12) Recovery of horses from general anesthesia after induction with propofol and ketamine versus midazolam and ketamine [105] (13) Evaluation of the use of midazolam as a co-induction agent with ketamine for anaesthesia in sedated ponies undergoing field castration [ [112] (20) Midazolam and ketamine induction before halothane anaesthesia in ponies: Cardiorespiratory, endocrine and metabolic changes [113] (21) Cardiorespiratory effects of a tiletamine/zolazepam-ketamine-detomidine combination in horses [114] (22) The pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of the injectable anaesthetic alfaxalone in the horse [115] (23) Short-term general anesthesia with tiletamine/zolazepam in horses sedated with medetomidine for castration under field conditions [116] 5 / ? (24) Thiopentone (pentothal sodium) as a general anaesthetic in the horse [117] (25) Glyceryl guaiacolate in equine anesthesia [118] (26) Pharmacokinetics of ketamine in the horse [119] Total induction drugs publications = 26 Table 5.…”

“…Ketamine is the most frequent agent used to induce general anaesthesia in horses [1,70]. Ketamine is superior to thiopental and the mixture tiletamine/zolazepam regarding duration and quality of recovery [94,98,104,109,110,122]. Thiopental might be still used as an alternative in ocular patients to avoid increases in intraocular pressures [102].…”