Abstract
A continuous-intravenous (iv) drip infusion of ketamine anesthesia was applied on a total nine cases of foals, ranging in age from one day to 19 weeks, undergoing a variety of surgical procedures. They were all premedicated with atropine (1mg/100kg) and xylazine (1mg/kg). Anesthesia was induced by a rapid iv infusion of 0.2 ketamine solution and maintained by a continuous iv drip infusion of the ketamine solution. Mean induction dose of ketamine was 2.3mg/kg, and mean ketamine infusion rate during maintenance anesthesia was 12.1mg/kg/h. Anesthetic induction and recovery from anesthesia were rapid and smooth in all cases. All foals showed good analgesia and muscle relaxation during maintenance anesthesia. Marked changes in body temperature, heart rates and respiration rates were not observed, nor abnormal electrocardiographic alterations were observed during maintenance anesthesia. The changes in arterial blood gases and pH showed slight respiratory acidosis 5min after induction of anesthesia, but no marked respiratory acidosis was observed during anesthesia. Arterial blood pressure remained within normal limits during anesthesia except for a case showing poor risk, which showed hypotention immediately after the ketamine infusion. No other serious side effects were observed. These findings indicate that ketamine anesthesia using iv drip infusion technique under xylazine treatment can be used in foal veterinary practice as a safe and regulatable anesthetic method.
