Assessment of the effects of intramuscular administration of alfaxalone with and without medetomidine in Horsfield's tortoises (Agrionemys horsfieldii).

Lone L. Hansen; Mads Frost Bertelsen

doi:10.1111/vaa.12045

Assessment of the effects of intramuscular administration of alfaxalone with and without medetomidine in Horsfield's tortoises (Agrionemys horsfieldii).

24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To characterise four different intramuscular (IM) anaesthetic protocols, two with alfaxalone and two with alfaxalone in combination with medetomidine in terrestrial tortoises. Study design: Blinded, randomized, cross-over experimental study. Animals: Nine healthy adult male Horsfield's tortoises (Agrionemys horsfieldii). Methods: Each tortoise was randomly assigned to one of four different protocols: 1) 10 mg kg^-1 alfaxalone; 2) 10 mg kg^-1 alfaxalone + 0.10 mg kg^-1 medetomidine; 3) 20 mg kg^-1 alfaxalone; and 4) 20 mg kg^-1 alfaxalone + 0.05 mg kg^-1 medetomidine. During the experiment, the following variables were recorded: heart rate; respiratory rate; peripheral nociceptive responses; muscle strength; ability to intubate; palpebral, corneal and tap reflexes; and cloacal temperature. Results: Protocols 1 and 2 resulted in moderate sedation with no analgesia, and moderate to deep sedation with minimal analgesia, respectively. Protocols 3 and 4 resulted in deep sedation or anaesthesia with variable analgesic effect; these two protocols had the longest total anaesthetic time and allowed intubation in 6/9 and 8/9 tortoises respectively. The total anaesthesia/sedation time produced by alfaxalone was significantly increased (p < 0.05) by the addition of medetomidine. There were no significant differences regarding time to plateau phase and duration of plateau phase. Baseline heart rate of 53 ± 6 beats minute^-1 decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with all protocols, and was lower (p < 0.05) in protocols 3 and 4. Heart rate increased after atipamezole administration, but the increase was transient. In two tortoises, extreme bradycardia with no cardiac activity for 10 minutes was observed with protocols 3 and 4. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Alfaxalone 10 and 20 mg kg^-1 IM can be used for sedation for non-painful procedures. Alfaxalone in combination with medetomidine can be used for deeper sedation or anaesthesia, but the observed respiratory and cardiovascular depression may limit its use.

Original language	English
Journal	Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
Volume	40
Issue number	6
Pages (from-to)	e68-e75
Number of pages	8
ISSN	1467-2987
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1111/vaa.12045
Publication status	Published - Nov 2013

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http://www.vaajournal.org/article/S1467298716304767/pdf

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@article{51b90016d7bb4fd1aa4ad09b709d65c6,

title = "Assessment of the effects of intramuscular administration of alfaxalone with and without medetomidine in Horsfield's tortoises (Agrionemys horsfieldii).",

abstract = "Objective: To characterise four different intramuscular (IM) anaesthetic protocols, two with alfaxalone and two with alfaxalone in combination with medetomidine in terrestrial tortoises. Study design: Blinded, randomized, cross-over experimental study. Animals: Nine healthy adult male Horsfield's tortoises (Agrionemys horsfieldii). Methods: Each tortoise was randomly assigned to one of four different protocols: 1) 10 mg kg-1 alfaxalone; 2) 10 mg kg-1 alfaxalone + 0.10 mg kg-1 medetomidine; 3) 20 mg kg-1 alfaxalone; and 4) 20 mg kg-1 alfaxalone + 0.05 mg kg-1 medetomidine. During the experiment, the following variables were recorded: heart rate; respiratory rate; peripheral nociceptive responses; muscle strength; ability to intubate; palpebral, corneal and tap reflexes; and cloacal temperature. Results: Protocols 1 and 2 resulted in moderate sedation with no analgesia, and moderate to deep sedation with minimal analgesia, respectively. Protocols 3 and 4 resulted in deep sedation or anaesthesia with variable analgesic effect; these two protocols had the longest total anaesthetic time and allowed intubation in 6/9 and 8/9 tortoises respectively. The total anaesthesia/sedation time produced by alfaxalone was significantly increased (p < 0.05) by the addition of medetomidine. There were no significant differences regarding time to plateau phase and duration of plateau phase. Baseline heart rate of 53 ± 6 beats minute-1 decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with all protocols, and was lower (p < 0.05) in protocols 3 and 4. Heart rate increased after atipamezole administration, but the increase was transient. In two tortoises, extreme bradycardia with no cardiac activity for 10 minutes was observed with protocols 3 and 4. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Alfaxalone 10 and 20 mg kg-1 IM can be used for sedation for non-painful procedures. Alfaxalone in combination with medetomidine can be used for deeper sedation or anaesthesia, but the observed respiratory and cardiovascular depression may limit its use.",

author = "Hansen, {Lone L.} and Bertelsen, {Mads Frost}",

year = "2013",

month = nov,

doi = "10.1111/vaa.12045",

language = "English",

volume = "40",

pages = "e68--e75",

journal = "Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia",

issn = "1467-2987",

publisher = "Wiley-Blackwell",

number = "6",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Assessment of the effects of intramuscular administration of alfaxalone with and without medetomidine in Horsfield's tortoises (Agrionemys horsfieldii).

AU - Hansen, Lone L.

AU - Bertelsen, Mads Frost

PY - 2013/11

Y1 - 2013/11

N2 - Objective: To characterise four different intramuscular (IM) anaesthetic protocols, two with alfaxalone and two with alfaxalone in combination with medetomidine in terrestrial tortoises. Study design: Blinded, randomized, cross-over experimental study. Animals: Nine healthy adult male Horsfield's tortoises (Agrionemys horsfieldii). Methods: Each tortoise was randomly assigned to one of four different protocols: 1) 10 mg kg-1 alfaxalone; 2) 10 mg kg-1 alfaxalone + 0.10 mg kg-1 medetomidine; 3) 20 mg kg-1 alfaxalone; and 4) 20 mg kg-1 alfaxalone + 0.05 mg kg-1 medetomidine. During the experiment, the following variables were recorded: heart rate; respiratory rate; peripheral nociceptive responses; muscle strength; ability to intubate; palpebral, corneal and tap reflexes; and cloacal temperature. Results: Protocols 1 and 2 resulted in moderate sedation with no analgesia, and moderate to deep sedation with minimal analgesia, respectively. Protocols 3 and 4 resulted in deep sedation or anaesthesia with variable analgesic effect; these two protocols had the longest total anaesthetic time and allowed intubation in 6/9 and 8/9 tortoises respectively. The total anaesthesia/sedation time produced by alfaxalone was significantly increased (p < 0.05) by the addition of medetomidine. There were no significant differences regarding time to plateau phase and duration of plateau phase. Baseline heart rate of 53 ± 6 beats minute-1 decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with all protocols, and was lower (p < 0.05) in protocols 3 and 4. Heart rate increased after atipamezole administration, but the increase was transient. In two tortoises, extreme bradycardia with no cardiac activity for 10 minutes was observed with protocols 3 and 4. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Alfaxalone 10 and 20 mg kg-1 IM can be used for sedation for non-painful procedures. Alfaxalone in combination with medetomidine can be used for deeper sedation or anaesthesia, but the observed respiratory and cardiovascular depression may limit its use.

AB - Objective: To characterise four different intramuscular (IM) anaesthetic protocols, two with alfaxalone and two with alfaxalone in combination with medetomidine in terrestrial tortoises. Study design: Blinded, randomized, cross-over experimental study. Animals: Nine healthy adult male Horsfield's tortoises (Agrionemys horsfieldii). Methods: Each tortoise was randomly assigned to one of four different protocols: 1) 10 mg kg-1 alfaxalone; 2) 10 mg kg-1 alfaxalone + 0.10 mg kg-1 medetomidine; 3) 20 mg kg-1 alfaxalone; and 4) 20 mg kg-1 alfaxalone + 0.05 mg kg-1 medetomidine. During the experiment, the following variables were recorded: heart rate; respiratory rate; peripheral nociceptive responses; muscle strength; ability to intubate; palpebral, corneal and tap reflexes; and cloacal temperature. Results: Protocols 1 and 2 resulted in moderate sedation with no analgesia, and moderate to deep sedation with minimal analgesia, respectively. Protocols 3 and 4 resulted in deep sedation or anaesthesia with variable analgesic effect; these two protocols had the longest total anaesthetic time and allowed intubation in 6/9 and 8/9 tortoises respectively. The total anaesthesia/sedation time produced by alfaxalone was significantly increased (p < 0.05) by the addition of medetomidine. There were no significant differences regarding time to plateau phase and duration of plateau phase. Baseline heart rate of 53 ± 6 beats minute-1 decreased significantly (p < 0.05) with all protocols, and was lower (p < 0.05) in protocols 3 and 4. Heart rate increased after atipamezole administration, but the increase was transient. In two tortoises, extreme bradycardia with no cardiac activity for 10 minutes was observed with protocols 3 and 4. Conclusion and clinical relevance: Alfaxalone 10 and 20 mg kg-1 IM can be used for sedation for non-painful procedures. Alfaxalone in combination with medetomidine can be used for deeper sedation or anaesthesia, but the observed respiratory and cardiovascular depression may limit its use.

U2 - 10.1111/vaa.12045

DO - 10.1111/vaa.12045

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 23672199

SN - 1467-2987

VL - 40

SP - e68-e75

JO - Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia

JF - Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia

IS - 6

ER -

Assessment of the effects of intramuscular administration of alfaxalone with and without medetomidine in Horsfield's tortoises (Agrionemys horsfieldii).

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