Clinicophysiological studies of atropine-tiletamine-zolazepam-sevoflurane anaesthesia with or without dexmedetomidine and butorphanol premedication in dogs

The present study was conducted on twelve clinical patients irrespective of age, breed and sex, randomly divided into two groups, viz., groups A and B consisting of six animals in each. Animals in group A were premedicated with atropine sulphate at the dose rate of 0.04 mg/kg body weight subcutaneously, while in group B, atropine sulphate at the dose rate of 0.04 mg/kg body weight was administered subcutaneously, followed by dexmedetomidine at the dose rate of 5 µg/kg body weight intravenously at a 5 minute interval, followed by butorphanol at the dose rate of 0.1 mg/ kg body weight intravenously at a 10 minute interval. Tiletamine-zolazepam was administered intravenously as the induction agent until it took effect and maintenance was conducted with sevoflurane in both groups of animals. Clini- cophysiological, haemodynamic and biochemical parameters were evaluated at various time intervals in both groups of animals. Induction time was significantly (P<0.01) lower whereas the duration of anaesthesia, sternal recumbency time, standing time, recovery time and complete recovery time were significantly (P<0.01) higher in the animals in group B as compared to group A. Excellent quality of muscle relaxation and analgesia was observed in the animals in group B. The abolition of pedal reflex and palpebral reflex was better in the animals in group B as compared to group A. Physiological parameters fluctuated within the normal limits. A significant (P<0.05) decrease in PR interval and a significant (P<0.05) increase in QRS interval were recorded in the animals in group A. A significant (P<0.05) increase in serum glucose and a non-significant (P>0.05) decrease in serum albumin, serum total protein, serum urea nitrogen and serum creatinine were recorded in both groups of animals. Thus, it was concluded that the anaesthetic combination of atropine-dexmedetomidine-butorphanol-tiletamine-zolazepam-sevoflurane produces better balanced anaesthesia compared to atropine-tiletamine-zolazepam-sevoflurane anaesthesia in clinical patients during routine surgeries.