Cardiopulmonary effects of Thiopentone sodium short term anaesthesia in Diazepam premedicated donkeys (Equus asinus L.)

Abstract

The current study was conducted to evaluate some of the toxic and/or adverse effects that may follow combined administration of diazepam and thiopentone sodium in donkeys. Twelve healthy male donkeys, 4-10 years of age, weighing 80-150 kg were used in this study. The donkeys were pre-medicated with diazepam (0.5 mg kg-1) using intravenous (IV) route. Thiopentone sodium 5% was administered IV, 10 minutes later at two different doses i.e. 10 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg body weight. Heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature at predetermined times, while anaesthetic parameters were monitored during anesthesia. The first protocol resulted in the death of three animals out of six (50%), while in the second protocol, five animals out of six (83%) died due to respiratory failure. The use of thiopentone sodium in the two tested protocols was accompanied by significant increase (P<0.05) in heart rate (tachycardia), while rectal temperature expressed non significant fluctuation. Animals treated with thiopentone sodium at dose rate of 10 mg/kg or 15mg/kg body weight with premedication showed significant decrease (P<0.05) in respiratory rate immediately following the induction of anaesthesia. Animals received premedication with diazepam at 0.5 mg/kg and subjected to treatment with thiopentone sodium at dose level 10 mg/kg or 15 mg/kg body weight resulted in significant increase in the anaesthetic phase and non significant change in the induction time, and due to the death of the animals we could not detect the time of other phases. Bothl anaesthetic protocols used in this study proved to have a wide range of less to fatal detrimental effects on cardiopulmonary systems.