Case Report
The use of ketamine, xylazine and midazolam combination for total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) in surgical removal of abdominal testis at stallion
Bojan D. Toholj * ,
Velibor D. Kujača ,
Milenko R. Stevančević ,
Jovan M. Spasojević ,
Ozren B. Smolec

Mac Vet Rev 2014; 37 (2): 185 - 188

10.14432/j.macvetrev.2014.09.024

Received: 16 June 2014

Received in revised form: 19 August 2014

Accepted: 25 August 2014

Available Online First: 15 September 2014

Published on: 15 October 2014

Correspondence: Bojan D. Toholj, bojantoholj@gmail.com
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Abstract

Equine veterinarians frequently anesthetize horses. In majority of cases performing short-term anesthesia (duration, 20 minutes). But there is substantial need for long term anesthesia. The aim of this work is to present our experience with a long term and short term total intravenous anesthesia in horses. In this paper we are presenting results of anesthesia monitoring of a horse undergoing surgical remove of an abdominal testis (complete abdominal cryptorchid). Sedation of the horse was conducted with xylazine, 1.0 mg/kg, iv, and midazolam 0.06 mg/kg, iv. The total anesthesia was induced using a combination of ketamine 2.2mg/kg/iv, and midazolam 0.1 mg/kg/iv. After induction the horse was restrained and anesthesia was maintained with continuous intravenous drip of a combination of drugs mixed in infusion bottle with midazolam (0.002 mg/kg/min), ketamine (0.03 mg/kg/min), and xylazine (0.016 mg/kg/min). Additional ketamine (0.03 mg/kg) and midazolam 0.03 mg/kg/iv was administered if the horse moved its head or limbs during the procedure. The duration of anesthesia was 90 minutes. During this time cardiopulmonary parameters and refl exes were monitored continuously.The recovery of anesthesia was 30 minutes and horse stood on the first attempt 40 minutes. Midazolam, ketamine, and xylazine in combination produced TIVA in this horse and can be used for short term, middle term, and longer lasting surgical procedures in the field.

Keywords: horse, anesthesia, TIVA


References

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Copyright

© 2014 Toholj B. This is an open-access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declared that they have no potential conflict of interest with respect to the authorship and/or publication of this article.

Citation Information

Macedonian Veterinary Review. Volume 37, Issue 2, Pages 185-188, p-ISSN 1409-7621, e-ISSN 1857-7415, DOI: 10.14432/j.macvetrev.2014.09.024, 2014