Action of epidural xylazine on ketamine anesthetic requirements in laparoscopic ovariohysterectomy in the dog

This experimental study was performed to evaluate if epidural administration of xylazine could decrease the effective dose of intravenous ketamine for maintenance of general anesthesia in laparoscopic procedures and to assess intra-anesthetic complications. Twenty healthy female dogs (21 ± 3 kg, 18 ± 1.2 months) were selected. Animals were randomly divided into two groups ( n = 10). All dogs were premedicated with acepromazine. Anesthesia was induced by a combination of ketamine and diazepam. In one group, xylazine, and in the other group, normal saline were injected epidurally, and then all the dogs were spayed by the same laparoscopic method. Repeated doses of ketamine were applied for maintenance of anesthesia. Reflexes and cardiopulmonary parameters such as SpO2 and ETCO2 were recorded during the operation. There were no significant differences in weight and age between the two groups. The mean of ketamine administration in group 1 was 640 mg and 270 mg in group 2 (epidural administration of xylazine). Data analysis showed that epidural administration of xylazine decreased the amount of ketamine needed to maintain anesthesia ( P