PROPOFOL AS AN INDUCTION AGENT IN THE GOAT - A PHARMACOKINETIC STUDY

The pharmacokinetics of propofol, 4 mg/kg, administered as a bolus dos e intravenously (i.v.) prior to the maintenance of anaesthesia with ha lothane in oxygen, were determined in five goats, and a clinical impre ssion of its use as an induction agent was made. Induction of anaesthe sia was rapid and smooth, providing satisfactory conditions for intuba tion in all animals. Post-induction apnoea occurred in one goat and mi nimal regurgitation of ruminal contents was recorded in two animals. R ecovery times were rapid with a mean time to standing after halothane inhalation ceased of 13.7 min. The blood propofol concentration time p rofile was best described by a bi-exponential decline in all five goat s. The mean elimination half-life was short (15.5 min), the volume of distribution at steady state large (2.56 1/kg) and the clearance rapid (275 ml/min.kg). Propofol was shown to be a very satisfactory inducti on agent in the goat.