Medetomidine-ketamine-isoflurane anaesthesia in pygmy hippopotami (Choeropsis liberiensis) - a case series

作者：Bouts Tim^*; Hermes Robert; Gasthuys Frank; Saragusty Joseph; Taylor Polly; Routh Andrew; Hildebrandt Thomas B

来源：Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 2012, 39(1): 111-118.

DOI：10.1111/j.1467-2995.2011.00671.x

• atipamezole
• Hexaprotodon liberiensis
• isoflurane
• ketamine
• medetomidine
• Triservice apparatus

History Medical knowledge of pygmy hippopotami is limited. Anaesthesia has been considered a challenge because of the anatomy, semi-aquatic life style and aggressive behaviour. Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) has been described and can contribute to active kidney disease potentially affecting anaesthesia. %26lt;br%26gt;Physical examination and Management Fourteen pygmy hippopotami were anaesthetized for general health assessment and reproductive procedures. Animals (estimated bodyweight 250 kg) were darted intramuscularly with 0.08 mg kg(-1) medetomidine and 1.2 mg kg(-1) ketamine. After endotracheal intubation, anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane delivered either by circle system (100% oxygen) or by Triservice apparatus (air or air/oxygen admixture). Heart rate (HR) respiratory rate (f(R)), oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) and end tidal CO2 were recorded at 5-minute intervals. Atipamezole was administered intramuscularly (0.4 mg kg(-1)) at the end of the procedure. Statistical analysis was performed using ANOVA (p %26lt; 0.05). %26lt;br%26gt;Most animals rapidly became recumbent although five hippopotami needed additional drugs to assure acceptable immobilization. There were no statistical differences in mean HR between animals with or without PKD (PKD: 34 +/- 8 beats minutes(-1); no PKD: 33 +/- 6 beats minutes(-1)), f(R) (PKD: 15 +/- 7 breaths minutes(-1); no PKD; 12 +/- 5 breaths minutes(-1)) and end tidal CO2 (PKD: 7.1 +/- 1.3 kPa; no PKD: 7.8 +/- 1.4 kPa). SpO(2) was higher in animals receiving 100% oxygen or air with oxygen (92 +/- 8% and 91 +/- 9% respectively) compared with animals receiving air only (77 +/- 5%) (p = 0.003). Recovery was uneventful after atipamezole administration. %26lt;br%26gt;Follow-up There were no apparent adverse effects after anaesthesia during a 24-hour follow-up period. %26lt;br%26gt;Discussion and conclusions Medetomidine-ketamine-isoflurane induced satisfactory anaesthesia in this species. Incremental induction doses were related to remote injection and the animals%26apos; thick skin. There were no differences in anaesthetic parameters in animals with or without PKD. Supplemental oxygen should be mandatory during anaesthesia in this species.

• 出版日期2012-1