Clinical, physiological and haemodynamic evaluation of vecuronium with propofol total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) in canine orthopaedic surgeries

A prospective randomized blinded study was conducted on 12 client owned dogs presented for orthopaedic surgeries, to evaluate vecuronium with propofol as TIVA. The animals were divided randomly into two groups equally designated as groups A and B. Atropine 0.04 mg/kg b.wt s.c. followed by diazepam 0.5 mg/kg b.wt, i.v. and pentazocine 1.5 mg/kg b.wt, i.v. were administered in both groups. Induction and maintenance of anaesthesia was done by propofol (1%) i.v. in both groups. Additionally in group B, at the time of incision when the surgical plane of anaesthesia was attained, vecuronium 0.04 mg/kg was administered i.v. Neuromuscular blockade (NMB) was monitored by stimulating facial nerve using train of four (TOF) mode of nerve stimulator. In group B, complete jaw relaxation was recorded. TOF revealed 80–90% NMB in group B and absence of NMB in group A. Maintenance dose of propofol required and the recovery time were significantly (P<0.05) lesser in group B than group A. Heart rate increased non-significantly (P&gt;0.05), and blood pressure decreased non-significantly (P&gt;0.05) after the anaesthetic induction in both groups. Respiratory rate decreased non-significantly (P&gt;0.05) in group A and significantly (P<0.05) in group B. Rectal temperature decreased significantly (P<0.05) in group A and nonsignificantly (P&gt;0.05) in group B. It was concluded that vecuronium (0.04 mg/kg) may be used to enhance muscle relaxation produced by propofol in dogs suffering from orthopaedic affections.