Effects of tasipimidine premedication with and without methadone and dexmedetomidine on cardiovascular variables during propofol-isoflurane anaesthesia in Beagle dogs

Objective To evaluate cardiovascular effects of oral tasipimidine on propofol-isoflurane anaesthesia with or without methadone and dexmedetomidine at equianaesthetic levels. Study design Prospective, placebo -controlled, blinded, experimental trial. Animals A group of seven adult Beagle dogs weighing (mean +/- standard deviation) 12.4 +/- 2.6 kg and a mean age of 20.6 +/- 1 months. Methods The dogs underwent four treatments 60 minutes before induction of anaesthesia with propofol. PP: placebo orally and placebo (NaCl 0.9%) intravenously (IV); TP: tasipimidine 30 mu g kg(-1) orally and placebo IV; TMP: tasipimidine 30 mu g kg(-1) orally and methadone 0.2 mg kg(-1) IV; and TMPD: tasipimidine 30 mu g kg -1 orally with methadone 0.2 mg kg(-1) and dexmedetomidine 1 mu g kg -1 IV followed by 1 mu g kg(-1) hour -1. Isoflurane in oxygen was maintained for 120 minutes at 1.2 individual minimum alveolar concentration preventing motor movement. Cardiac output (CO), tissue blood flow (tbf), tissue oxygen saturation (stO2) and relative haemoglobin content were determined. Arterial and mixed venous blood gases, arterial and pulmonary artery pressures and heart rate (HR) were measured at baseline; 60 minutes after oral premedication; 5 minutes after IV premedication; 15, 30, 60, 90 and 120 minutes after propofol injection; and 30 minutes after switching the vaporiser off. Data were analysed by two-way ANOVA for repeated measures; p < 0.05. Results Tasipimidine induced a significant 20-30% reduction in HR and CO with decreases in MAP (10-15%), tbf (40%) and stO2 (43%). Blood pressure and oxygenation variables were mainly influenced by propofolisoflurane-oxygen anaesthesia, preceded by short-lived alterations related to IV methadone and dexmedetomidine. Conclusions and clinical relevance Tasipimidine induced mild to moderate cardiovascular depression. It can be incorporated into a common anaesthetic protocol without detrimental effects in healthy dogs, when anaesthetics are administered to effect and cardiorespiratory function is monitored.