The effect of peritoneal dialysis on the recovery from anesthesia was evaluated using 10 healthy mixed-breed dogs. The animals were given sodium pentobarbital (25 mg/kg) intravenously. After a surgical anesthesia was attained, peritoneal dialysis was performed using a metal catheter and a commercial dialysis fluid. The arousal time, respiratory rate, heart rate, body temperature, blood pressure and ECG were recorded during and after the dialysis. Furthermore, the pentobarbital concentration in the collected fluid was measured.
In 6 of the 10 dogs receiving peritoneal dialysis, the arousal time was decreased to 70 % of those in control dogs. Two other dogs showed no significant reduction, and the rest of the dogs showed a longer arousal time. In addition, the mean pentobarbital concentration in the collected dialysate fluid (273 ml/head) was as low as 6.4μg/ml. Between the control and the dialysis group, no significant difference was found in clinical findings and physiological data.

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