Cardiopulmonary and haematobiochemical alterations during ketamine or propofol anaesthesia in acepromazine-xylazine premedicated horses

Twelve clinical cases of horses were randomly divided into group I and group II consisting of six each. Xylazine (0.50 mg/kg b.wt) and acepromazine (0.03 mg/kg) were administered i.v. as pre-anaesthetics in both groups. Ketamine 2.20 mg/kg b.wt and 0.05 mg/kg/min was used i.v. for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in group I. Propofol 2.0 mg/kg b.wt and 0.15 mg/kg/min was used i.v. for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in group II. Cardiopulmonary and haematobiochemical parameters were recorded before sedation, after sedation, after induction and maintenance of anaesthesia and after recovery. The heart rate was significantly higher in group I, and the mean central venous pressure was significantly higher in group II. Hyperglycemia and hypoproteinemia were more with ketamine than propofol. Considering the cost and the volume required based on the cardiopulmonary and haematobiochemical parameters, it could be concluded that ketamine being cost effective could be used as induction and maintenance agent in anaesthetic procedures requiring short duration of anaesthesia, whereas propofol could be used in anaesthetic procedures requiring longer duration in field ambulatory equine practice.