Effects of butorphanol on the minimum anesthetic concentration for sevoflurane in guineafowl (Numida meleagris)

Objective-To determine the minimum anesthetic concentration (MAC) for sevoflurane and measure the dose and temporal effects of butorphanol on the MAC for sevoflurane in guineafowl. Animals-10 healthy adult guineafowl (Numida meleagris). Procedures-Each bird was anesthetized with sevoflurane, and a standard bracketing method was used to measure the MAC in response to a noxious electrical stimulus. Subsequently, conditions were adjusted so that each bird was anesthetized with sevoflurane at a fraction of its respective MAC (eg, 0.7 times the MAC for that bird). Butorphanol tartrate (2 mg/kg, IV) was administered, and a noxious stimulus was applied every 15 minutes until the bird moved in response. The reduction in MAC was estimated with logistic regression by use of a standard quantal method. After an interval of >= 1 week, the MAC reduction experiment was repeated with an increased butorphanol dosage (4 mg/kg). Results-Individual mean +/- SE MAC for sevoflurane was 2.9 +/- 0.1%. At 15 minutes after administration of 2 mg of butorphanol/kg, estimated reduction in the MAC for sevoflurane was 9 +/- 3%. At 15 and 30 minutes after administration of 4 mg of butorphanol/kg, estimated reduction in the MAC for sevoflurane was 21 +/- 4% and 11 +/- 8%, respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-In guineafowl, the MAC for sevoflurane was similar to values reported for other species. Increasing the butorphanol dosage decreased the MAC for sevoflurane, but the effect was small and of short duration for dosages up to 4 mg/kg. (Am J Vet Res 2012;73:183-188)`