Utilização de remifentanil em antas-brasileiras (<i>Tapirus terrestris</i>) submetidas à anestesia geral

The Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris) is a land mammal that is found in rehabilitation centers throughout Brazil and is frequently subjected to anesthesia to carry out surgical procedures. The present report addresses the use of remifentanil in continuous infusion in two tapirs undergoing general anesthesia for different surgical procedures. Both received detomidine as a sedative, in doses between 20 and 60 mcg/kg, associated with butorphanol or ketamine. Ketamine was the main induction agent, alone or combined with midazolam and propofol. Isoflurane was used to maintain anesthesia, associated with continuous infusions of remifentanil, lidocaine, ketamine and detomidine. Remifentanil (1 and 2 mcg/kg/h) provided an improvement in anesthetic depth, although there was a need for postoperative analgesic rescue. Mild hypotension and bradycardia were observed after the start of the remifentanil infusion, varying more significantly in the second case, possibly influenced by anemia, intraoperative bleeding, and concomitant infusion of alpha-2 agonists. Anesthetic recovery was fast in both cases, without cardiorespiratory compromise. Additional studies are needed to evaluate the analgesic potential and impact of remifentanil in reducing the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of isoflurane and its applications in tapirs.