Assessment of Cardiopulmonary and Electrocardiographic Stability under Three TIVA Protocols in Goats Premedicated with Nalbuphine

The present study aimed to compare the anaesthetic performance of three total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) protocols in Egyptian Baladi goats aged 3–5 months. All animals received nalbuphine (0.5 mg/kg IV) as premedication, followed by induction with ketamine (7 mg/kg) and midazolam (0.7 mg/kg). Maintenance was achieved with propofol alone (P), propofol plus midazolam (PM), or propofol combined with midazolam and ketamine (PMK). Physiological parameters, including heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), oxygen saturation (SpO₂), rectal temperature, and arterial blood pressures (SAP, DAP, MAP), were monitored at 5-minute intervals up to 60 minutes. Electrocardiographic (ECG) variables were assessed at 10, 20, 40, and 60 minutes following nalbuphine administration. No arrhythmias were observed in any group, and minor alterations in ECG waveforms remained within normal limits. All protocols induced reductions in HR, RR, and blood pressures during maintenance, though the PMK group maintained significantly higher HR, RR, and MAP values compared with P and PM. These findings indicate that ketamine minimized the depressant effects of propofol, resulting in more stable hemodynamic and respiratory profiles. Rectal temperature decreased significantly across all groups, with no notable intergroup variation. In conclusion, the PMK protocol offered the most stable anaesthetic profile, combining cardiovascular safety with adequate respiratory function, thereby supporting the role of ketamine as a valuable component of balanced TIVA in goats.