CARDIOVASCULAR EFFECTS OF A CONTINUOUS 2-HOUR PROPOFOL INFUSION IN DOGS - COMPARISON WITH ISOFLURANE ANESTHESIA

The cardiovascular effects during 2 hours of anesthesia with either a continuous propofol infusion or isoflurane were compared in the same s ix healthy dogs. Dogs were randomly assigned to be anesthetized with e ither propofol (5 mg/kg, IV administered over 30 seconds, immediately followed by a propofol infusion beginning at 0.4 mg/kg/min), or isoflu rane (2.0% end-tidal concentration). The propofol infusion was adjuste d to maintain a light plane of anesthesia. Dogs anesthetized with prop ofol had higher values for systemic arterial pressure due to higher sy stemic vascular resistance. Dogs anesthetized with isoflurane had high er values for heart rate and mean pulmonary artery pressure. Cardiac i ndex was not different between the two groups. Apnea and cyanosis were observed during induction of anesthesia with propofol. At the end of anesthesia the mean time to extubation for dogs anesthetized with eith er propofol or isoflurane was 13.5 min and 12.7 min, respectively. A c ontinuous infusion of propofol (0.44 mg/kg/min) provided a light plane of anesthesia. Ventilatory support during continuous propofol infusio n is recommended.