Propofol exhibit shorter recovery time than thiopentone infusion in Small East African goats

Abstract

Goat as ruminants are not good subjects for general anaesthesia complicated by their anatomical structures, effects associated with general anaesthetic administration and recovery periods. The present study aimed to evaluate two anaesthetic agents known to have short induction and recovery period as suitable for total intravenous anaesthesia. A total of fourteen goats of 14.7kg mean weight and randomly divided into two groups of seven animals each were used in the study. One group received induction dose of 6mg/kg of 1% propofol and the second group received 12mg/kg dose of 2.5% thiopentone respectively. Anaesthesia was maintained by continuous infusion for 30 minutes using a CRI pump where a double dose of induction for propofol group and same induction dose for thiopentone group added in 100mls of normal saline were used. Results indicated a similar induction time for propofol and thiopentone (p>0.05); both drugs had depressive effect on respiration. Thiopentone showed a considerable tachycardia and rectal temperature increase unlike propofol which maintained the pre-injection values of these parameters. The time to return to consciousness was significantly shorter for propofol compared to thiopentone (p<0.05). In addition, propofol showed superior quality of anaesthesia compared to thiopentone. The study recommends the use of propofol for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia for short procedures requiring general anaesthesia in goat.