Sevoflurane anesthesia following administration of atropine-guaifenesin-thiopental in spontaneous-breathing adult cattle.

The effect of sevoflurane-oxygen anesthesia at surgical depth on clinically important features was evaluated in spontaneously breathing cattle given atropine-guaifenesin-thiopental. The mean end-tidal sevoflurane concentrations ranged from 1.4 to 2.0% for 75 min maintenance. Recovery from anesthesia was extremely rapid and smooth. Heart rate increased and arterial pressure was higher during anesthesia, but respiratory rate did not change significantly. Arrhythmia was not observed. Minute ventilation was low due to decreased tidal volume during anesthesia, and changes in blood gases and pH showed mild respiratory acidosis. There were no marked changes in hematologic or serum biochemical values for 7 days postanesthesia. These findings suggest that sevoflurane is an effective inhalant anesthetic showing rapid recovery from anesthesia.