Biomaterial Database

[Clinical use of ketamine-xylazine for anaesthesia in the cat (author's transl)]. 1979

J Arnbjerg

Based on experiences from anaesthesia of approximately 7000 cats in a four year period the effects of a combination of 20--25 mg/kg Ketamine and 0.5 mg/kg Xylazine given i/m are described. In the present study the Xylazine has been applied in considerably lower doses, compared with previous reports on these drugs, and this change has reduced the unwanted side effects, without at the same time reducing the effect on the muscular tension and the psychical disturbances induced by the Ketamine. Ketamine and Xylazine were given in one injection after being taken in the named sequence and mixed in the syringe. Indication for anaesthetizing the cats were, besides routine surgery in the out-patient clinic, operations of weakened animals for pyometra, foreign bodies, intestinal invaginations with and without resection, removal of abdominal tumors and urolithiasis. Animals with impared liver function were not anaesthetized with these drugs due to the important role of liver metabolism in their excretion. In spite of the fact that the corneal and laryngeal reflexes normally persist, the combination of the two drugs allowed surgery in these organs after application of local anaesthetics as an extra precaution. Premedication with atropine has not been used routinely, and still only very few cases of increased salivation or vomiting have been observed. Aspiration has not been a complication and in the whole material, only 3 deaths have occurred, none of them with a specific post mortem finding besides shock. In these 3 cases the patient died later than 45 minutes after the injection and after ended surgery. Side effects ascribed to phenomena of interaction have not been observed. One cat was anaesthetized a number of times during pregnancy without any effect on the cat or its kittens. It is concluded, that the Ketamine/Xylazine combination, when mixed as prescribed gives a very safe and pleasant narcosis, and that side effects are minimized, if the corneas are moistened with an ophthalmic ointment and the patient is allowed to recover in dark and quiet surroundings.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007273	Injections, Intramuscular	Forceful administration into a muscle of liquid medication, nutrient, or other fluid through a hollow needle piercing the muscle and any tissue covering it.	Intramuscular Injections,Injection, Intramuscular,Intramuscular Injection
D007649	Ketamine	A cyclohexanone derivative used for induction of anesthesia. Its mechanism of action is not well understood, but ketamine can block NMDA receptors (RECEPTORS, N-METHYL-D-ASPARTATE) and may interact with sigma receptors.	2-(2-Chlorophenyl)-2-(methylamino)cyclohexanone,CI-581,Calipsol,Calypsol,Kalipsol,Ketalar,Ketamine Hydrochloride,Ketanest,Ketaset,CI 581,CI581
D011247	Pregnancy	The status during which female mammals carry their developing young (EMBRYOS or FETUSES) in utero before birth, beginning from FERTILIZATION to BIRTH.	Gestation,Pregnancies
D002415	Cats	The domestic cat, Felis catus, of the carnivore family FELIDAE, comprising over 30 different breeds. The domestic cat is descended primarily from the wild cat of Africa and extreme southwestern Asia. Though probably present in towns in Palestine as long ago as 7000 years, actual domestication occurred in Egypt about 4000 years ago. (From Walker's Mammals of the World, 6th ed, p801)	Felis catus,Felis domesticus,Domestic Cats,Felis domestica,Felis sylvestris catus,Cat,Cat, Domestic,Cats, Domestic,Domestic Cat
D004338	Drug Combinations	Single preparations containing two or more active agents, for the purpose of their concurrent administration as a fixed dose mixture.	Drug Combination,Combination, Drug,Combinations, Drug
D004341	Drug Evaluation	Any process by which toxicity, metabolism, absorption, elimination, preferred route of administration, safe dosage range, etc., for a drug or group of drugs is determined through clinical assessment in humans or veterinary animals.	Evaluation Studies, Drug,Drug Evaluation Studies,Drug Evaluation Study,Drug Evaluations,Evaluation Study, Drug,Evaluation, Drug,Evaluations, Drug,Studies, Drug Evaluation,Study, Drug Evaluation
D005260	Female		Females
D000768	Anesthesia, General	Procedure in which patients are induced into an unconscious state through use of various medications so that they do not feel pain during surgery.	Anesthesias, General,General Anesthesia,General Anesthesias
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013843	Thiazines