Analgesic and cardiopulmonary effects of intrathecally administered romifidine or romifidine and ketamine in goats (Capra hircus)

The study was conducted to evaluate the effects of romifidine alone (50 mug /kg) and a combination of romifidine (50 mug/kg) and ketamine (2.5 mg/kg) a fter intrathecal administration in goats. Ten adult goats of either sex wei ghing between 15 and 20 kg were randomly placed in 2 groups (groups I and I T). The agents were administered at the lumbosacral subarachnoid space. Cli nico-physiological parameters such as analgesia, motor incoordination, seda tion, salivation, heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial pressure, central venous pressure and rectal temperature were studied. Other haematobiochemic al parameters monitored were packed cell volume, haemoglobin, plasma protei ns, glucose, urea and creatinine. The onset of analgesia was faster in grou p II (35.5 +/- 6.25 s) compared to that of group I(5.2 +/- 0.54 min). Analg esia of the tail, perineum, hind limbs, flank and thorax was mild to modera te in group I, but complete analgesia of tail, perineum and hind limbs was recorded in group II. Motor incoordination was mild in group I and severe i n group II. Significant reduction in heart rate (more pronounced in group I ) and respiratory rate (more pronounced in group II), and a significant inc rease in central venous pressure were recorded in both groups. Mean arteria l pressure was reduced in both groups, but more markedly in group I. Sedati on, electrocardiogram, rectal temperature and haemato-biochemical parameter s did not show significant differences between the 2 groups. The results of this study indicated a possible synergistic analgesic interaction between intrathecally administered romifidine and ketamine, without causing any mar ked systemic effects in goats.