A COMPARISON OF ROMIFIDINE AND XYLAZINE WHEN USED WITH DIAZEPAM KETAMINE FOR SHORT-DURATION ANESTHESIA IN THE HORSE/

The purpose of this study was to compare and evaluate sedation with in travenous xylazine (1.1 mg/kg bodyweight [BW]) versus intravenous romi fidine (100 mu g/kg BW) followed by induction of anesthesia with intra venous diazepam (0.04 mg/kg BW) and ketamine (2.2 mg/kg BW). Twelve he althy horses were used in a blinded, randomized, cross-over design. He art rate, presence of 2nd degree atrioventricular heart blocks (2 degr ees AVB), respiratory rate, arterial blood pressures, blood gases, pac ked cell volume, total serum proteins, and duration of anesthesia and recumbency were recorded. Induction and recovery quality was evaluated using a 0 to 4 score. Response to stimulation with noise, pressure, a nd cutaneous electrical stimulation was assessed at 5 minute intervals during recumbency to evaluate the depth of anesthesia. Heart rate was lower and 2 degrees AVB more frequent in the romifidine group, while blood pressure was lower in the xylazine group. Duration of anesthesia was longer in the romifidine group ((x) over bar 20.8, s((x) over bar ) 2.3 min) versus the xylazine group ((x) over bar 15.8, s((x) over ba r) 1.6 min), while induction and recovery were excellent in both group s. Respiratory rates, blood gas values, packed cell volumes, and total . protein levels did not differ between groups. The results indicate t hat romifidine premedication followed by diazepam and ketamine is a ve ry satisfactory regime for short duration intravenous anesthesia in ho rses.