Propofol partial intravenous anaesthesia with isoflurane alone or in combination with fentanyl and ketamine infusions in three captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) undergoing different diagnostic and surgical procedures

Three captive chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) were scheduled for diagnostic and surgical procedures under general anaesthesia. After premedication with oral midazolam (0.2 mg kg−1) and intramuscular medetomidine (20 µg kg−1) and ketamine (3 mg kg−1), anaesthesia was induced with intravenous propofol (1–4 mg kg−1). The animals were then maintained under general anaesthesia with propofol partial intravenous anaesthesia (0.10–0.17 mg kg−1 min−1) and isoflurane. On four occasions, the anaesthetised animals received fentanyl (1–3 µg kg−1 h−1) and ketamine (5–10 µg kg−1 min−1) infusions for analgesia. All animals recovered uneventfully. This case series details the anaesthetic protocols used, the challenges presented to the anaesthetist by this species and the peri‐anaesthetic complications observed. It also introduces the use of propofol total intravenous anaesthesia as an option for safe transportation of captive chimpanzees between facilities.