Presumptive buprenorphine associated intraoperative apnoea and prolonged recovery in a giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) during castration for testicular neoplasia

Abstract

A 14-year-old giant panda presented with unilateral scrotal swelling. Palpation and conscious ultrasound were suggestive of testicular neoplasia. Anaesthesia was required to obtain radiographs and MRI. Immobilisation was achieved with ketamine and medetomidine, and anaesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane in oxygen. Tumours were discovered in both testes and castration was performed. before surgery buprenorphine was administered by slow intravenous injection. Apnoea occurred after approximately 10 mcg/kg had been injected so administration was discontinued. Manual ventilation was required for the majority of the general anaesthetic duration. Spontaneous ventilation returned shortly before transfer to the recovery area. Intramuscular atipamezole administration did not induce a normal recovery; the panda remained profoundly sedated. Further atipamezole had no effect. Due to the apnoea associated with buprenorphine administration during general anaesthesia naltrexone was administered resulting in the panda standing within 5 min post injection.

Anesthesia in Captive Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda Melanoleuca) With Medetomidine-Ketamine

“…A comparably low dose of medetomidine has been previously described (0.035–0.04 mg/kg) in a similar drug protocol in giant pandas. 6,8,12 The ketamine dose used in this study was lower than in previously reported ketamine-only protocols, but in this study they were used in combination with medetomidine. 7…”

“…A comparably low dose of medetomidine has been previously described (0.035-0.04 mg/kg) in a similar drug protocol in giant pandas. 6,8,12 The ketamine dose used in this study was lower than in previously reported ketamine-only protocols, but in this study they were used in combination with medetomidine. 7 The first signs of sedation (slowing down, ataxia, and dropping the head) appeared quickly, and the pandas went into sternal recumbency without reaction to external stimuli in less than 5 min, which was much faster than previously reported in giant pandas with ketamine alone (16.4 6 12 min and 12.2 6 15.7 min), ketamine-diazepam (22.7 6 8.7 min), ketamine-xylazine (8.8 6 6.6 min and 18 6 26 min), tiletamine-zolazepam (10.7 6 5.5 min), tiletamine-zolazepam-ketamine (7.0 6 4.3 min) tiletamine-zolazepam-ketamine-medetomidine (6.23 6 6.34 min), and dexmedetomidine-tiletamine-zolazepam (8[7-12] min).…”

“…5,7,8 Some polar bears anesthetized with medetomidine-ketamine showed sudden arousal, but this was not observed in giant pandas. 1,6,8,12 Intubation and maintenance of anesthesia with isoflurane in a small-animal circle system was straightforward and easily controlled. HR remained stable throughout anesthesia.…”

“…5 Medetomidine-ketamine anesthesia, to the authors' knowledge, has so far been limited to two different giant pandas. 6,8,12 The present study describes the successful use of medetomidine and ketamine on eight separate occasions over 4 yr in two giant pandas housed in Pairi Daiza in Brugelette, Hainaut, Belgium.…”

“…5 Medetomidine–ketamine anesthesia, to the authors' knowledge, has so far been limited to two different giant pandas. 6,8,12…”