Effects of triflupromazine-chloral hydrate-thiopentone and glycopyrrolate-acepromazine-xylazine-thiopentone anaesthetic combinations in buffaloes undergoing diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy

Study was done to compare the sedative and behavioural effects of triflupromazine-chloral hydrate-thiopentone (group I) and glycopyrrolate-acepromazine-xylazine-thiopentone (group II) anaesthetic combinations in 12 adult female buffaloes undergoing diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy. Triflupromazine was given i.m. @ 0.30 mg/kg, chloral hydrate as a 6% solution 18 mg/kg as constant rate infusion @ 0.125 mL/s after 15 min of the former in group I or glycopyrrolate (0.01 mg/kg, i.m.), acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg, i.m.), xylazine hydrochloride (0.04 mg/kg i.m.) at 15 min intervals in group II. Thiopentone sodium (5% solution, 10 mg/kg b.wt) i.v. was given ‘to effect’ after 20 and 15 min of giving chloral hydrate or xylazine in groups I and II, respectively. In group I, all the animals became calm after triflupromazine administration; in group II, spontaneous activity decreased after acepromazine administration. In group I only two animals showed ataxia after administration of triflupromazine, whereas in group II ataxia was observed in all animals after acepromazine administration. In both groups, anaesthetic induction was marked by relaxation of laryngeal muscles, jaw muscles and tail; palpebral and pharyngeal reflexes were abolished soon after induction of anaesthesia and corneal reflex remained sluggish throughout the period of anaesthesia. Analgesia was absent in two animals after induction in group I, whereas all animals in group II showed good analgesia. Salivation was noticed in 4 animals after induction of anaesthesia in group I, whereas salivation was noticed in one animal in group II. Complete recovery took 230.17±49 min after thiopentone administration in group I, whereas it took only 169.67±15.0 min after thiopentone administration in group II. It was concluded that triflupromazine-chloral hydratethiopentone combination is less favourable than glycopyrrolate-acepromazine-xylazine-thiopentone for diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy in buffaloes as it produced anaesthesia for a prolonged duration with delayed recovery and lack of adequate analgesia.