[Effect of ketamine and its combinations with xylazine and climazolam on the circulation and respiration in swine].

The cardiopulmonary effects of 15 mg ketamine/kg b. wt. and 15 mg ketamine/kg in combination with 1 mg climazolam/kg b. wt. or in combination with 18.5 mg Xylazine/kg b. wt. were tested after intramuscular injection in 17 pigs. Blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, arterial pH, pO2, pCO2, lactate in venous blood and body temperature were evaluated over a period of 2 hours. The activities of CK and ASAT in blood plasma were measured until 24 hours after the injections. There was little influence on heart rate and blood pressure after ketamine alone and also after one of the two combinations. Ketamine produced a tachypnea which was seen to a smaller extent also following injection of combinations of the drugs. This tachypnea produced a slight respiratory alkalosis. The metabolic acidosis, indicated by increasing lactate levels, occurring initially and during the recovery period was largely compensated by the respiratory alkalosis. The increased levels of CK and ASAT are explained by the destruction of muscle tissue at the locus of the injection.