Effect of dexmedetomidine-ketofol-isoflurane anaesthesia on the clinico-physiological and haemodynamic stability in canine orthopaedic patients

Anaesthetic trials were conducted to record the effects of dexmedetomidine-ketofol-isoflurane anaesthesia on the clinico-physiological and haemodynamic stability in 20 canine orthopaedic patients, divided in 4 groups. Animals of all the groups were premedicated with atropine sulphate (0.04 mg/kg body wt, i.m.), followed 5 min later by dexmedetomidine (15 p.g/kg body wt, i.v.). Subsequently, after 5 min, anaesthesia was induced with intravenous ketamine in group A, 1% propofol in group B, and ketofol, a combination of ketamine and propofol in ratios of 1:1 and 2:1 in groups C and D, respectively. For maintenance of anaesthesia, isoflurane was used in the animals of all the groups. Heart rate showed an initial increase after anaesthetic induction at 10 min interval followed by a decrease in all the groups. Respiratory rate showed a significant decrease but rectal temperature showed a marginal decrease from base line values in all the groups. Systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure and mean arterial pressure increased initially in all the groups up to 20 min interval and then decreased. Ketofol (1:1 and 2:1) produced a smooth and rapid induction of anaesthesia in atropine-dexmedetomidine premedicated dogs; and ketofol as an induction agent and isoflurane as a maintenance agent produced no significant changes in haemodynamic parameters and therefore found safe for canine orthopaedic patients.