Comparison of midazolam and diazepam as co-induction agents with ketamine for anaesthesia in sedated ponies undergoing field castration

Evaluation of the use of midazolam as a co‐induction agent with ketamine for anaesthesia in sedated ponies undergoing field castration

“…This is consistent with our study where time to intubation was significantly longer and intubation scores lower in the placebo group. The reported induction time in our study appears to be considerably longer than previous studies [1,10,19] however, it must be noted that different end points, typically time from induction to lateral recumbency, are often used. Consistent with these previous studies, induction time was longer when ketamine alone was used compared to a ketamine-benzodiazepine combination.…”

“…Ketamine is often combined with a benzodiazepine to facilitate muscle relaxation [1]. Ketamine is often combined with a benzodiazepine to facilitate muscle relaxation [1].…”

“…Ketamine is a licenced dissociative anaesthetic induction agent frequently used for equine anaesthesia and is typified by cardiovascular stability but poor muscle relaxation. Ketamine is often combined with a benzodiazepine to facilitate muscle relaxation [1]. Diazepam and midazolam are both commonly used in equine anaesthesia [2,3]; muscle relaxation is mediated centrally via enhancement of the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitter c-aminobutyric acid (GABA) at the GABA A receptor [4].…”

A multicentre, prospective, randomised, blinded clinical trial to compare some perioperative effects of buprenorphine or butorphanol premedication before equine elective general anaesthesia and surgery

“…Diazepam was replaced by midazolam on a few occasions. These are both benzodiazepines of similar duration of effect in horses and have been shown to be indistinguishable when used with ketamine for induction prior to surgery for castration . Ketamine was used exclusively for induction, demonstrating its recent almost universal adoption for this purpose in horses.…”

Comparison of xylazine and detomidine in combination with midazolam/ketamine for field castration in Quarter Horses

“…Ketamine mitigates the cardiovascular depression seen with α 2 ‐agonists, which in turn minimises the degree of muscle hypertonicity caused by ketamine, to produce a short period of safe and effective anaesthesia in horses . Induction quality and muscle relaxation can be further improved with the co‐administration of midazolam or diazepam . Anaesthetic duration can be prolonged for 5‐10 minutes by redosing with one third to one half of the induction dose of ketamine, often paired with a similar partial induction dose of xylazine, which is the most frequently used combination in clinical settings …”