Alfaxalone anaesthesia in the green iguana (Iguana iguana)

TY - JOUR

T1 - Alfaxalone anaesthesia in the green iguana (Iguana iguana)

AU - Bertelsen, Mads Frost

AU - Sauer, Cathrine Dyhr

PY - 2011/9

Y1 - 2011/9

N2 - Objective To characterise the anaesthetic effects of alfaxalone administered intramuscularly (IM) at 10, 20, and 30mgkg-1. Study design Prospective, randomized cross-over study. Animals Ten juvenile green iguanas (Iguana iguana) of mean body weight (±SD) 480±134g. Methods Alfaxalone was administered IM in the triceps of both thoracic limbs. Times for anaesthetic induction, plateau and recovery periods were recorded. Skeletal muscle tone of the jaw, neck, thoracic limbs, pelvic limbs, and tail was scored. The palpebral, corneal and righting reflexes, and the response to painful stimuli were also assessed. Pulse rate and respiratory rate were recorded. Comparisons between different dosages and over time were made using anova. Results Times are given for 10, 20 and 30mgkg-1 dosages respectively: mean time to maximal effect was 7.7±2.2, 5.4±1.7 and 3.9±1.2minutes; duration of the plateau phase was 11.3±3.8, 22.1±6.5 and 39.1±11.5minutes; recovery time was 10±2.4, 17.5±8.6 and 25±7.1minutes; and total anaesthetic duration was 29±35.7, 45±8.2 and 68±9.8minutes. Endotracheal intubation was possible in 40% of the subjects given 10mgkg-1 and in 100% subjects given both 20 and 30mgkg-1. Loss of response to a painful stimulus was seen in 0/10, 8/10 and 9/10 animals at 10, 20, and 30mgkg-1 respectively. There was an initial dose-dependent depression of respiration followed by a significant increase in frequency over time. In contrast, pulse rates decreased by 20% over the duration of the anaesthetic events. Conclusions and clinical relevance Intramuscular administration of alfaxalone is a simple, rapid and reliable means of achieving relatively brief sedation or anaesthesia in healthy green iguanas. A dosage of 10mgkg-1 provides light sedation, appropriate for examination and venipuncture; 20mgkg-1 provides a level suitable for minor procedures or for endotracheal intubation and supplementation with inhalational anaesthesia; 30mgkg-1 produces an anaesthetic plane suitable for surgical procedures of limited duration (up to 40 minutes).

AB - Objective To characterise the anaesthetic effects of alfaxalone administered intramuscularly (IM) at 10, 20, and 30mgkg-1. Study design Prospective, randomized cross-over study. Animals Ten juvenile green iguanas (Iguana iguana) of mean body weight (±SD) 480±134g. Methods Alfaxalone was administered IM in the triceps of both thoracic limbs. Times for anaesthetic induction, plateau and recovery periods were recorded. Skeletal muscle tone of the jaw, neck, thoracic limbs, pelvic limbs, and tail was scored. The palpebral, corneal and righting reflexes, and the response to painful stimuli were also assessed. Pulse rate and respiratory rate were recorded. Comparisons between different dosages and over time were made using anova. Results Times are given for 10, 20 and 30mgkg-1 dosages respectively: mean time to maximal effect was 7.7±2.2, 5.4±1.7 and 3.9±1.2minutes; duration of the plateau phase was 11.3±3.8, 22.1±6.5 and 39.1±11.5minutes; recovery time was 10±2.4, 17.5±8.6 and 25±7.1minutes; and total anaesthetic duration was 29±35.7, 45±8.2 and 68±9.8minutes. Endotracheal intubation was possible in 40% of the subjects given 10mgkg-1 and in 100% subjects given both 20 and 30mgkg-1. Loss of response to a painful stimulus was seen in 0/10, 8/10 and 9/10 animals at 10, 20, and 30mgkg-1 respectively. There was an initial dose-dependent depression of respiration followed by a significant increase in frequency over time. In contrast, pulse rates decreased by 20% over the duration of the anaesthetic events. Conclusions and clinical relevance Intramuscular administration of alfaxalone is a simple, rapid and reliable means of achieving relatively brief sedation or anaesthesia in healthy green iguanas. A dosage of 10mgkg-1 provides light sedation, appropriate for examination and venipuncture; 20mgkg-1 provides a level suitable for minor procedures or for endotracheal intubation and supplementation with inhalational anaesthesia; 30mgkg-1 produces an anaesthetic plane suitable for surgical procedures of limited duration (up to 40 minutes).

KW - Former LIFE faculty

KW - alfaxalone

KW - anaesthesia

KW - iguana

KW - reptile

U2 - 10.1111/j.1467-2995.2011.00640.x

DO - 10.1111/j.1467-2995.2011.00640.x

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 21831051

SN - 1467-2987

VL - 38

SP - 461

EP - 466

JO - Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia

JF - Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia

IS - 5

ER -