The purpose of this study was to evaluate an anesthetic association with and without the use of a nondepolarizing muscle relaxant agent and its effect on intraocular pressure of horses, and also obtain an anesthetic technique free of adverse effects for ophthalmic surgeries in this specie. Sixteen horses were randomly divided in two groups of eight horses each. In group I, horses were pre-medicated with romifidine, anesthesia induced with tiletamine/zolazepam and maintained with halothane and vecuronium. Horses of group II received the same anesthetic association except for vecuronium. Intraocular pressure, arterial pressure and heart rate were evaluated in different moments during the experiment. The anesthetic association composed by romifidine, tiletamine/zolazepam and halothane with and without vecuronium did not promote statistically significant alterations in horses intraocular pressure and its use is practicable in ophthalmologic procedures.
intraocular pressure; anesthesia; horses; neuromuscular blocking agent
