Perioperative stress response in the dog: effect of pre-emptive administration of medetomidine.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the effect of medetomidine on the stress response induced by ovariohysterectomy in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs.

STUDY DESIGN

Prospective randomized study.

ANIMALS

Twelve healthy adult female purpose-bred dogs, weighing 16.8 to 25 kg.

METHODS

Two treatments were randomly administered to each of twelve dogs at weekly intervals: (1) Saline injected IM followed in 15 minutes by isoflurane anesthesia (ISO) induced by mask and maintained at an end-tidal concentration of 1.8% for 60 minutes; and (2) Medetomidine, 15 ug/lkg IM followed in 15 minutes by isoflurane anesthesia (ISO&MED) induced by mask and maintained at an end-tidal concentration of 1.0% for 60 minutes. One week after completion of these two treatments, all dogs were ovariohysterectomized. six receiving each treatment (SURG and SURG&MED). Central venous blood samples (10 mL) were obtained immediately before medetomidine or saline (baseline) and at 30, 75, and 195 minutes and 24 hours after administration of medetomidine or saline in ISO and ISO&MED. In SURG and SURG&MED, samples were obtained immediately prior to injection of medetomidine or saline (baseline) and at 30 (before skin incision), 45 (after severence of the ovarian ligament), 75 (after skin closure), 105 (30 minutes after skin closure, dog recovered and in sternal recumbency), 135, 195, 375 minutes, and 24 hours after the initial sample. Samples were analyzed for epinephrine, norepinephrine, adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH), cortisol, insulin, and glucose. Data were analyzed by analysis of variance and where significant differences were found, a least significant difference test was applied.

RESULTS

Premedication with medetomidine prevented or delayed the stress response induced by ovariohysterectomy in isoflurane-anesthetized dogs.

CONCLUSIONS

The stress response induced by ovariohysterectomy, although significant, is of short duration. Medetomidine safely and effectively reduced surgically-induced stress responses.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

Surgically induced stress responses can be obtunded or prevented by administration of medetomidine.