Abstract:
BACKGROUND : The potent sedative medetomidine is a commonly used adjunct
for the immobilisation of non-domestic mammals. However, its use is associated
with pronounced cardiovascular side effects, such as bradycardia, vasoconstriction
and decreased cardiac output. We investigated the effects of the
peripherally-acting alpha-2-adrenoceptor antagonist vatinoxan on cardiovascular
properties in medetomidine-tiletamine-zolazepam anaesthetised
wild boar (Sus scrofa).
METHODS : Twelve wild boars, anaesthetised twice with medetomidine
(0.1 mg/kg) and tiletamine/zolazepam (2.5 mg/kg) IM in a randomised,
crossover study, were administered (0.1 mg/kg) vatinoxan or an equivalent
volume of saline IV (control). Cardiovascular variables, including heart rate
(HR), mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP),
pulmonary artery occlusion pressure (PAOP) and cardiac output (CO), were
assessed 5 min prior to vatinoxan/saline administration until the end of
anaesthesia 30 min later.
RESULTS : MAP (p < 0.0001), MPAP (p < 0.001) and MPAOP (p < 0.0001) significantly
decreased from baseline after vatinoxan until the end of anaesthesia.
HR increased significantly (p < 0.0001) from baseline after vatinoxan administration.
However, the effect on HR subsided 3 min after vatinoxan. All variables
remained constant after saline injection. There was no significant effect
of vatinoxan or saline on CO.
CONCLUSION : Vatinoxan significantly reduced systemic and pulmonary artery
hypertension, induced by medetomidine in wild boar.
