The aim of this study was to
determine the effects of lidocaine (LIDO) and dexmedetomidine (DEX) or their combination
(LIDO–DEX), administered by constant-rate infusion (CRI), on the minimum alveolar
concentration (MAC) of sevoflurane in dogs. Seven healthy mongrel dogs were used with a
2-week washout interval between treatments in this study. Anesthesia was induced with
propofol and maintained with sevoflurane in oxygen, and MAC of sevoflurane was determined
after 90 min equilibration period in the dogs (SEV-MACBASAL). Then, sevoflurane
MAC was determined again in the dogs after 45 min equilibration period of one of the
following treatments: an intravenous loading dose of lidocaine 2 mg/kg followed by 6
mg/kg/hr CRI (SEV-MACLIDO); an intravenous loading dose of dexmedetomidine 2
µg/kg followed by 2 µg/kg/hr CRI
(SEV-MACDEX); or their combination (SEV-MACLIDO-DEX). These
SEV-MACs were determined in duplicate. Data were analyzed using ANOVA and post
hoc Tuckey test when appropriate. The SEV-MACBASAL was 1.82 ± 0.06%,
SEV-MACLIDO was 1.38 ± 0.08%, SEV-MACDEX was 1.22 ± 0.10%, and
SEV-MACLIDO-DEX was 0.78 ± 0.06%. The CRI administration of lidocaine,
dexmedetomidine and their combination produced a significant reduction in the MAC of
sevoflurane by 26.1 ± 9.0% (P<0.0001), 43.7 ± 11.8%
(P<0.0002) and 54.4 ± 9.8% (P<0.0001),
respectively. The MAC reduction was significantly greater after the CRI combination of
lidocaine and dexmedetomidine when compared with lidocaine CRI
(P<0.0001) or dexmedetomidine CRI treatments
(P<0.025).