engleski

ECG monitoring during elective surgical procedure in cat

Castration in cats is a short surgical procedure that rarely requires intubation. In young and healthy cats, a combination of injectable anesthetics is recommended. There are several anesthetic cocktails (“kitty magic”) that usually include a combination of opioids (butorphanol), sedatives (medetomidine/dexmedetomidine) and dissociative anesthetics (eg. ketamine). Arrhythmia is often present in the anesthetized animal, either from the effect of anesthetic and analgesic, or as a preexisting cardiovascular disease or arrhythmia. The aim of the study was to determine the incidence of arrhythmia in cats anesthetized by a combination of dexmedetomidine, ketamine and butorphanol anesthetics. The study was conducted on 20 domestic crossbred cats, 10 males and 10 females, with ECG monitoring at 15, 30, 60 and 120 minutes after anesthesia administration. Comparing the ECG of non- sedated and anesthetized animals, a continuous decrease in heart rate was observed of 37% on average. The heart rate decrease was most pronounced 60 minutes after anaesthesia administration. The decrease was the most pronounced in females and males, mainly after 60 minutes of anesthesia administration (p<0.05). During anesthesia, respiratory sinus arrhythmia and increased variability of the R-R interval occurred. Sixty minutes after the anesthetic application, the prolongation of the P-R interval was observed, i.e. in 75% of cats there was a frst-degree atrioventricular (AV) block, which can be attributed to anaesthetic activity. After 120 minutes from the anesthetic administration, the P-R interval remained extended, but 2nd and 3rd degree AV blocks were not established. There were no differences in the confguration and appearance of the P wave and QRS complex between non-sedated and anesthetized cats. On the basis of the ECG parameters of anesthetized animals in relation to the parameters of alert, non-sedated animals, we concluded that the combination of butorphanol, dexmedetomidine and ketamine is safe for short surgical procedures (castration in cats, abscess drainage), dental procedures and otoscopic examination in unsociable cats.

ECG, cat, elective surgical procedure

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