Comparative evaluation of thiopental sodium and ketamine hydrochloride in the maintenance of general anaesthesia during exploratory laparotomy in Nigerian indigenous dogs

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of thiopental sodium and ketamine hydrochloride on rectal temperature, pulse and respiratory rates, anaesthetic duration/recovery time in dogs during the maintenance of general anaesthesia post-induction with thiopental sodium. Ten apparently healthy male and female dogs, aged 12-30 months, weighing 7-14 kg were divided into two groups of 5 dogs each. Atropine (0.02 mg/kg) and chlorpromazine (4 mg/kg) were used for premedication. Thiopental sodium (20 mg/kg) was used for induction and maintenance in group A while dogs in group B were given thiopental sodium (20 mg/kg) for induction and ketamine hydrochloride (20 mg/kg) for maintenance. Duration of anaesthesia to recovery time, and vital parameters were monitored and recorded accordingly. Results revealed group A had significantly (p<0.001) prolonged duration of anaesthesia to recovery time (400 minutes) when compared to group B (200 minutes). Significant decrease was however observed in rectal temperature of group A at 50 minutes (p< 0.05), 60-90 minutes (p<0.01) and100-110 minutes (p<0.001) when compared to group B. Similarly, the respiratory rates of dogs in group A showed significant decrease at 50 minutes (p< 0.01), 60-110 minutes (p< 0.001) when compared to group B. There was no significant (p> 0.05) effect in the pulse rates of either group. It was concluded that a relative shorter recovery time, stability in rectal temperature, pulse and respiratory rates in the group maintained with ketamine hydrochloride were observed when compared to the group induced and maintained with thiopental sodium.