Comparative Effect of Epidural Administration of Xylazine or Dexmedetomidine on Echocardiographic Dimensions and Cardiac Indices in Clinically Healthy Donkeys (Equus asinus)

Hussam M M Ibrahim; Khaled S Abouelnasr; Mohamed A Hamed; Rasha A Eltayesh; Sabry A El-Khodery

doi:10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102882

Comparative Effect of Epidural Administration of Xylazine or Dexmedetomidine on Echocardiographic Dimensions and Cardiac Indices in Clinically Healthy Donkeys (Equus asinus)

J Equine Vet Sci. 2020 Feb:85:102882. doi: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102882. Epub 2019 Dec 6.

Authors

Hussam M M Ibrahim¹, Khaled S Abouelnasr², Mohamed A Hamed³, Rasha A Eltayesh⁴, Sabry A El-Khodery⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt. Electronic address: hussam-habosha@mans.edu.eg.
² Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
³ Department of Surgery, Anesthesiology and Radiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aswan University, Aswan, Egypt.
⁴ Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.
⁵ Department of Internal Medicine, Infectious and Fish Diseases, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt.

PMID: 31952632
DOI: 10.1016/j.jevs.2019.102882

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to assess and compare the changes of the echocardiographic dimensions and cardiac function indices after epidural injection of xylazine or dexmedetomidine in clinically healthy donkeys. In an experimental prospective randomized cross-over study, 10 healthy adult donkeys were injected with saline solution, xylazine (0.20 mg kg^-1), and dexmedetomidine (0.005 mg kg^-1) into the epidural space between the second and third coccygeal vertebrae. Echocardiographic dimensions as well as cardiac function indices were assessed using a 2-3.9 MHz sector transducer, at the left paracostal ultrasonographic window, at zero, 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes after administration of these medications. Epidural injection of xylazine or dexmedetomidine produced moderate sedation, complete bilateral perineal analgesia, and mild ataxia in all studied donkeys. There was a significant (P < .05) decrease in the interventricular septum thickness at end systole 60 minutes, stroke volume 30-120 minutes, fractional shortening 120 minutes, and ejection fraction 90-120 minutes after administration of xylazine or dexmedetomidine when compared with saline solution. Left ventricular end diastolic volume was significantly (P < .05) increased 60 minutes following epidural injection of dexmedetomidine compared with xylazine and saline solution. There was a significant (P < .05) increase in the left ventricular internal diameter at end diastole 90-120 minutes and left ventricular end systolic volume 60-180 minutes after administration of xylazine or dexmedetomidine in comparison with saline solution. In conclusion, epidural use of xylazine or dexmedetomidine in donkeys induced mild and transient effect on echocardiographic dimensions as well as cardiac function indices. Therefore, care should be taken when such medications are to be administered into the epidural space in donkeys with a pre-anesthetic cardiovascular compromise.

Keywords: Dexmedetomidine; Donkeys; Echocardiography; Epidural route; Xylazine.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial, Veterinary

MeSH terms

Animals
Dexmedetomidine*
Echocardiography
Epidural Space
Equidae
Prospective Studies
Xylazine*

Substances

Xylazine
Dexmedetomidine