Propofol (2,6 diisopropylphenol) is an ultra short duration hypnotic agent that produces sedation and hypnosis similar to barbituric agent, but lacks analgesic action. This is a chemically unique anesthetic agent that can be used for induction and anesthetic maintenance. The objective of this research was to evaluate the cardiac and respiratory rate, oximetry, mean arterial blood pressure and tidal volume and minute volume in dogs premedicated with acepromazine and fentanyl and anesthetized by continuous infusion by propofol. Ten dogs were submitted to anesthesia by continuous propofol infusion during ninety minutes. Using acepromazine (0.1mg.kg-1) and fentanyl (0.01mg.kg-1) as pre anesthetic drugs, anesthesia was induced using propofol (3.16mg.kg-1) and maintained by continuous infusion of propofol in a rate of 0.4mg.kg-1 .min-1. The parameters were measured immediately after induction, at 10, 20, 30, 60 and 90 minutes following induction; by the end of infusion and 30 minutes after the end of infusion. The parameters were analyzed by analysis of variance for repeated measures and the means were analyzed by the Tuckey test to 5% of significance. The protocol used had no statistical effect on the parameters analyzed. One animal showed apnea during the induction phase. The results obtained in this experiment suggest that this protocol might be safely and efficiently used for routine intravenous anesthesia in dogs.
dogs; propofol; continuous infusion; acepromazine; fentanyl
