Background: Although commonly used, dissociative anesthesia results in unsatisfactory and long recovery periods. The intravenous anesthetic propofol seems to be the most advantageous solution. The objectives of this study were to investigate the required infusion rate of propofol to maintain surgical anesthesia and to compare it to tiletamine-zolazepam in Aotus infulatus.
Methods: Eight healthy feline night monkeys were anesthetized with propofol (PRO) or tiletamine-zolazepam (TZ) during 60 minutes. Cardiopulmonary parameters, arterial blood gases and lactate and quality and times to recovery were determined.
Results: Mean infusion rate of propofol was 0.53 ± 0.10 mg/kg/minute. Cardiopulmonary effects did not show marked differences between groups. Times for hanging, ventral recumbency, and normal ambulation were lower in PRO. Establishment of desirable anesthetic depth was easier, recovery quality was superior, and lactate levels were lower in PRO.
Conclusions: Compared with tiletamine-zolazepam, minor post-anesthetic adverse events should be expected with propofol anesthesia, as well as faster and better anesthetic recovery.
Keywords: anesthesia; lactate; primate; recovery; total intravenous anesthesia.
© 2013 John Wiley & Sons A/S. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.