Influence of dopamine and dobutamine on the cardiovascular depression during a standard halothane anaesthesia in dorsally recumbent, ventilated ponies.

The influence of different rates of dopamine and dobutamine on the cardiovascular depression during a standard halothane anesthesia was studied in dorsally recumbent ventilated ponies. Haemodynamic and respiratory responses were investigated by means of cardiac output (CO) determination (thermodilution technique), mean systemic (MAP) and pulmonary artery pressure (MPAP) (direct intravascular method) and arterial blood analysis (blood gases and packed cell volume). An important cardiopulmonary depression characterized by decreases (55% of the standing values) in CO, cardiac index (CI), MAP, MPAP and other cardiovascular related parameters occurred in the dorsally recumbent anaesthetized ponies after a stabilization period of 30 minutes. Dopamine at 2 different infusion rates (2.5 and 5.0 micrograms/kg/min) induced few changes of the cardiopulmonary parameters (non-significant increases in MAP, CI, left ventricular work [LVW], stroke volume [SV]; non-significant decrease in total peripheral resistance [TPR]). Several minor time related influences were also observed (increases in MPAP and total pulmonary resistance [TpR]). Arterial blood gases did not change during the different dopamine infusions. Low doses of dobutamine (1.25 micrograms/kg/min) were efficient to counteract the cardiovascular depression. Significant increases in CO, CI, MAP, MPAP and SV were observed. TPR and TpR tended to decrease but non-significantly. Heart rate and blood gases remained constant. The higher doses of dobutamine (2.5 and 5.0 micrograms/kg/min) accentuated these changes but a significant increase in heart rate with even periods of severe tachycardia and an increase of the packed cell volume were also observed. Apparently, low doses of dobutamine were indicated for the management of the cardiovascular depression during anaesthesia in the dorsally recumbent ventilated horse.