DOSE SPARING EFFECTS OF ROMIFIDINE PREMEDICATION FOR THIOPENTONE AND HALOTHANE ANESTHESIA IN THE DOG

Two intravenous doses of romifidine (40 and 80 mu g/kg) and a placebo were compared as premedicants for anaesthesia induced with thiopentone and maintained using halothane in oxygen. Romifidine significantly an d linearly reduced the induction dose of thiopentone; placebo-treated dogs required 15.1 +/- 3.6 mg/kg, while dogs treated with 40 mu g/kg a nd 80 mu g/kg romifidine required 6.5 +/- 1.6 and 3.9 +/- 0.3 mg/kg th iopentone, respectively, Romifidine also significantly and linearly re duced the end tidal halothane concentration necessary to maintain a pr edetermined level of anaesthesia; placebo-treated dogs required 1.6 +/ - 0.3 per cent halothane, while dogs treated with 40 mu g/kg and 80 mu g/kg romifidine required 1.3 +/- 0.4 and 0.8 +/- 0.2 per cent, respec tively, Romifidine produced a significant shortening in the recovery f rom anaesthesia, and the higher dose of romifidine significantly impro ved the overall quality of anaesthesia.