Adverse effects associated with propofol constant rate infusion anaesthesia in dogs

The aim of the study was to record adverse effects of propofol constant rate infusion (CRI) anaesthesia in dogs. The study included 20 dogs of either sex presented for various surgical procedures. All the animals were premedicated with inj. butorphanol tartrate (0.2 mg/kg body wt, i.m.) followed by inj. atropine sulphate (0.04 mg/kg body wt, s.c.) and inj. diazepam (0.5 mg/kg body wt, i.v.). General anaesthesia was induced in all the animals with propofol administered intravenously to effect. In all the animals, anaesthesia was maintained with propofol at CRI dose rate of 0.38–0.44 mg/kg body wt/min; 10 dogs received propofol CRI through a syringe pump and 10 dogs received propofol CRI through a pediatric drip set. The main adverse effect noticed was muscular dystonia with limb hyperextension and was recorded in 8 out of 20 animals. Most of animals showed mild to moderate hypothermia postoperatively. One animal showed persistent palpebral reflex throughout the procedure, haemolysis in plasma sample intraoperatively and horizontal nystagmus postoperatively.