Influence of ketamine, propofol or isoflurane on intraocular pressure, heart rate and blood pressure in healthy dogs premedicated with medetomidine and midazolam

Abstract

Abstract Background According to the findings of several studies, sedatives and anaesthetics have different effects on the functioning of the cardiovascular system and intraocular pressure (IOP). For accurate diagnosis, treatment and surgery with minimal complications, it is necessary to be aware of the effects of sedatives and anaesthetics on the cardiovascular system and IOP. Objectives The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of sedatives (medetomidine and midazolam) and anaesthetics (ketamine, propofol and isoflurane) on IOP, heart rate (HR) and blood pressure in dogs. Methods In this study, 10 dogs participated in three treatments using a randomised cross‐over design, with a 1‐week washout period between each treatment. Dogs in all treatments were premedicated with medetomidine and midazolam. Anaesthesia was induced using ketamine, propofol, or isoflurane and maintained for 60 min with the appropriate doses of each drug. The cardiovascular variables (heart rate, and systolic, diastolic and mean arterial pressures) and IOP were measured at different timepoints: before premedication (baseline values, T‐Bas), 15 min after medetomidine administration (T‐Med), 20 min after midazolam administration (T‐Mid) and at 15 (T‐15), 30 (T‐30), 45 (T‐45) and 60 (T‐60) min after anaesthesia induction. Results Medetomidine significantly reduced the IOP and HR and did not significantly change the mean arterial pressure (MAP). Midazolam significantly reduced the IOP while did not significantly change the HR and MAP. Ketamine and isoflurane significantly increased the IOP and HR while did not significantly change the MAP. Propofol significantly increased the HR, but did not cause significant changes in IOP and MAP. Conclusions Considering that anaesthetics are typically administered in conjunction with pre‐anaesthetic drugs, the increases in IOP induced by ketamine and isoflurane are not important, as the IOP did not exceed the baseline values. However, further studies are required to investigate these effects in patients with elevated IOP.

Keywords

• anaesthetics
• blood pressure
• cardiovascular variables
• heart rate
• intraocular pressure