Evaluation of medetomidine-midazolam-atropine (MeMiA) anesthesia maintained with propofol infusion in New Zealand White rabbits.

An anesthetic combination of medetomidine-midazolam-atropine and propofol was investigated in twenty New Zealand White rabbits. Each rabbit received combined medetomidine at a dosage of 0.2 mg/kg (b.w.), midazolam (0.5 mg/kg b.w.) and atropine (0.5 mg/kg b.w.) intramuscularly for induction of anesthesia. Propofol was administered intravenously - given to effect, and after that by an infusion pump to maintain anesthesia. The influence of the anesthetic combination on the cardiopulmonary system was evaluated by monitoring respiratory and heart rates, blood pressure, and arterial blood gas tensions. The results obtained showed that propofol infusion at a rate of 0.5 mg/kg b.w./min maintained general anesthesia effectively with few side effects on the cardiopulmonary system during 30 minutes. However, slight hypotension, hypercapnia, and respiratory acidosis were associated with infusion of this anesthetic. The recovery of the rabbits from the anesthesia was smooth. Two rabbits died 20 to 24 hours after anesthesia. In conclusion, an anesthetic combination with medetomidine-midazolam-atropine and propofol at the investigated doses was shown to be a safe method to induce and maintain general anesthesia enabling short-term surgical procedures in healthy animals.