AUTHOR=Lervik Andreas , Forr Toverud Simen , Bohlin Jon , Haga Henning Andreas 

TITLE=Macrocirculatory Parameters and Oxygen Debt Indices in Pigs During Propofol Or Alfaxalone Anesthesia When Subjected to Experimental Stepwise Hemorrhage

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Veterinary Science

VOLUME=8

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinary-science/articles/10.3389/fvets.2021.664112

DOI=10.3389/fvets.2021.664112

ISSN=2297-1769

ABSTRACT=<p><bold>Background:</bold> Pigs are anesthetized when used for emergency procedures live tissue training (LTT) of civilian and military medical personnel or for experimental purposes, but there is a paucity in the literature regarding anesthesia of pigs for this purpose.</p><p><bold>Objective(s):</bold> The main goals of the study were to compare oxygen debt, macrocirculatory parameters, and time to cardiac arrest between pigs in hemorrhagic shock and anesthetized with propofol-ketamine-dexmedetomidine or alfaxalone-ketamine-dexmedetomidine.</p><p><bold>Design:</bold> A prospective, non-blinded randomized study design was used. Sixteen pigs were randomized in blocks of four to be anesthetized with either propofol-ketamine-dexmedetomidine (<italic>n</italic> = 8) or alfaxalone-ketamine-dexmedetomidine (<italic>n</italic> = 8) as a continuous infusion.</p><p><bold>Interventions:</bold> Premedication with ketamine 15 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> and midazolam 1 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> was given i.m. Anesthesia was maintained with propofol 8 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> or alfaxalone 5 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> combined with ketamine 5 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> and dexmedetomidine 4 μg kg<sup>−1</sup> h<sup>−1</sup> i.v. A stepwise, volume-controlled model for hemorrhage was created by exsanguination.</p><p><bold>Main Outcome Measures:</bold> Indices of oxygen debt (lactate, base excess, and oxygen extraction), macrocirculatory (PR, SAP, DAP, MAP, and <italic>CI</italic>, SVI, and TPR) variables, and time to death was compared between groups.</p><p><bold>Results:</bold> Pigs in the alfaxalone group had significantly higher SAP than pigs given propofol. No difference in other macrocirculatory variables or indices of oxygen debt could be found. A blood loss of 50% of the total blood volume or more was possible in most pigs with both anesthetic regimes.</p><p><bold>Conclusions:</bold> Pigs anesthetized with propofol or alfaxalone combined with ketamine and dexmedetomidine tolerated substantial blood loss.</p>