A Comparison of the Hemodynamic Effects of Alfaxalone and Propofol in Pigs

Abstract

Objective: The hemodynamic effects of alfaxalone and propofol on the cardiovascular system during anesthetic maintenance in experimental medicine were investigated in pigs using a Pulse Contour-Derived Cardiac Output (Picco) thermodilution monitoring device. Animals: In this prospective experimental study, six (alfaxalone) and seven (propofol) female Landrace pigs weighing 32.5±3.7 kg each were examined. Procedures: Sedation was induced by administering ketamine, azaperone and atropine intramuscularly, and anesthesia was induced and maintained IV by treatment with either alfaxalone or propofol. Analgesia was achieved via pre-emptive metamizole in combination with transient remifentanil for vascular catheterization. For 2.5 hours, the following parameters were recorded every 15 min: heart rate, arterial oxygen saturation, end-tidal CO 2 , rectal body temperature and central venous pressure. In addition, blood pressure, cardiac output, contractility, preload and afterload volumetric variables and extravascular lung water were recorded every 15 minutes by the PiCCO system. After these measurements were acquired, the pigs were allowed to awaken; each pig's recovery period was recorded until the animal could stand. Results: Overall, blood pressure and cardiac output were higher in the alfaxalone group than in the propofol group. However no significant differences between the groups were detected. Recovery was smoother and less variable with propofol than with alfaxalone, which produce either excitation with a rapid recovery or persistent muscle relaxation followed by a prolonged and variable recovery period. Conclusions and clinical relevance-This study indicates that alfaxalone (at the dosages studied) tends to produce higher hemodynamic stability than propofol for anesthesia maintenance in pigs but recovery from alfaxalone may be rougher than recovery from propofol.

Determination of the Minimum Infusion Rate of Alfaxalone Combined with Electroacupuncture in Goats

“…In both ALF and EA-ALF groups, echocardiographic parameters fluctuated within the clinically acceptable with insignificant differences in SV and CO reported at alfaxalone MIR time. Prior studies revealed insignificant changes in CO, CI, and SV during alfaxalone anesthesia in goats [10], horses [41], and dogs [42,43]. In this current study, the alfaxaloneinduced tachycardia is most likely the compensatory reflex for maintaining CO within the normal level range throughout the experiment [10,44].…”