Paolo Monticelli

Sedative effects of intramuscular alfaxalone in pet guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus)

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy and side effects of alfaxalone administered intramuscularly (IM) as a sedative agent in guinea pigs undergoing survey radiographs. STUDY DESIGN Prospective clinical trial. ANIMALS A total of 30 client-owned guinea pigs. METHODS Following baseline assessments, 5 mg kg-1 alfaxalone was administered IM. Heart rate, arterial haemoglobin oxygen saturation, respiratory rate, rectal body temperature, palpebral reflex, response to toe and ear pinch, righting reflex, posture, jaw tone and reaction to manipulation were assessed before and after sedation at 5-minute intervals. The time elapsed from onset of sedation to return of locomotion and coordinated limb movements, the quality of recovery and the occurrence of undesired effects were observed and recorded. RESULTS The mean ± standard deviation onset of sedation was 2.7 ± 0.6 minutes. The physiological variables remained within normal ranges until completion of the procedure. Palpebral reflex and responsiveness to both ear and toe pinch were maintained during sedation. Neither hypoxaemia nor hypothermia was observed. The duration of sedation was 29.3 ± 3.2 minutes. Sedation and recovery were uneventful, and adverse effects were not observed. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE In conclusion, 5 mg kg-1 of IM alfaxalone represents a valuable sedation protocol for healthy guinea pigs undergoing minor noninvasive procedures. Further trials are required to investigate its cardiovascular effects, clinical usefulness in unhealthy patients and its combined use with analgesics for procedures associated with nociception.

Life-threatening perianaesthetic complications in five cats undergoing biliary tract surgery: case series and literature review

Case series summary The aim of this case series was to describe the intra- and early postanaesthetic complications occurring in five cats undergoing major surgeries involving the gallbladder and the biliary tree. The five cases of this series were admitted to the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals between June and December 2015, and were all overseen by the same senior anaesthesist. Pre-existing pancreatitis was a common finding. Observed life-threatening events were persistent, unresponsive hypotension in the absence of major blood loss, which occurred mainly during surgical manipulation of the biliary tract, and postoperative renal failure. Relevance and novel information Biliary surgery carries the potential for life-threatening complications in cats. The pathogenesis of such morbidities is likely to be multifactorial. The perianaesthetic use of haemoglobin-based oxygen-carrying solution may be considered as an alternative treatment option when hypotension is unresponsive to fluids and traditional positive inotropes and vasopressors.

Prolonged seizure-like phenomena in an English springer spaniel after total intravenous anaesthesia with propofol

Propofol is an anaesthetic agent commonly used for both induction and maintenance of general anaesthesia and has been associated with seizure-like phenomena (SLP) in both veterinary and human medicine. This case report describes an English springer spaniel with no previous history of neurological symptoms, which exhibited SLP after propofol anaesthesia for bronchoscopy. The SLP were refractory to treatment for 13 hours, but steadily improved after administration of phenobarbital and levetiracetam. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first report of their use to manage SLP.