CARDIOPULMONARY AND ANESTHETIC EFFECTS OF PROPOFOL ADMINISTERED INTRAOSSEOUSLY TO GREEN IGUANAS

Objective-To determine cardiopulmonary effects of intraosseous adminis tration of propofol in green iguanas (Iguana iguana). Design-Prospecti ve study. Animals-14 green iguanas. Procedure-Anesthesia was induced i n 4 iguanas with propofol (10 mg/kg [4.5 mg/lb] of body weight, intrao sseously). Heart and respiratory rates, functional hemoglobin oxygen s aturation (SpO(2)), end-tidal CO2 concentration, and cloacal temperatu re were recorded, Ten additional iguanas were given propofol intraosse ously for induction (5 mg/kg [2.3 mg/lb]) and maintenance (0.5 mg/kg/m in [0.23 mg/lb/min], q 30 min) of anesthesia. Heart and respiratory ra tes, cloacal temperature, and SpO(2) were recorded. Results-Mean induc tion time for the first 4 iguanas was 1.2 minutes. A significant decre ase in heart rate was seen 1 minute after induction of anesthesia. All iguanas were apneic, but spontaneous ventilation resumed within 5 min utes. End-tidal CO2 concentration decreased from 46 mm of Hg 4 minutes after induction of anesthesia to 32 mm of Hg 30 minutes after inducti on of anesthesia. Mean duration of anesthesia was 27 minutes. Mean ind uction time for the other 10 iguanas was 3 minutes. A significant decr ease in heart rate was detected 35 minutes after induction of anesthes ia and persisted until 120 minutes. Mean SpO(2) value decreased from 7 9% 5 minutes after induction of anesthesia to 64% 30 minutes after ind uction of anesthesia. Mean recovery time was 57 minutes. Clinical Impl ications-Propofol is an effective anesthetic agent for use in green ig uanas. It is recommended that iguanas be intubated, provided oxygen, a nd given assisted ventilation after administration of propofol to prev ent hypoxemia and hypercapnia.