The perioperative care of lambs and ewes when the former undergo major experimental (scoliotic) surgery

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to optimize postoperative comfort in lambs anaesthetized for the surgical creation of scoliosis while maintaining the ewe-lamb relationship to miminize rejection rates. The first management plan produced six scoliotic lambs but intraoperative hypoventilation and hypovolaemia followed by postoperative dyspnoea, pain, monitoring and nursing difficulties, hypothermia, hypoglycaemia and tympany were encountered. Three of eight lambs (38%) were rejected by their ewes. Perioperative management was amended which, combined with improved surgical technique, produced 16 scoliotic lambs. The lambs recovered more rapidly (mean time to standing after discontinuation of anaesthesia was reduced from 12 h to 70 min) and appeared to be more comfortable. No rejections occurred after the refinements were implemented.

Preanesthesia, Anesthesia, Analgesia, and Euthanasia

“…There is little difference in cardiovascular and respiratory effects between the three agents (Hikasa Halothane 0.76% (Valverde and Doherty, 2008) 0.69% (Valverde and Doherty, 2008) 0.96 ± 0.12% (Hikasa et al, 1998) 1.3 ± 0.1% (Antognini and Eisele, 1993) Isoflurane 1.14 ± 0.01% (Cantalapiedra et al, 2000) 1.19-1.53% (Valverde and Doherty, 2008) 1.31 ± 0.03% (Doherty et al, 2002b) 1.29 ± 0.11% (Hikasa et al, 1998) 1.5 ± 0.3% (Antognini and Eisele, 1993) Desflurane Not reported 9.5% (Lukasik et al, 1998a) Not reported Sevoflurane Not reported 3.3% (Lukasik et al, 1998b) 2.33 ± 0.15% (Hikasa et al, 1998) MAC values for calves are assumed to be similar to adult cattle. More rapid recovery of the animal anesthetized with sevoflurane may be advantageous in specific situations such as anesthesia of pre-weanling lambs (Vettorato et al, 2012;Clutton et al, 2014). Because sevoflurane is approximately seven times the cost of isoflurane and a higher MAC is required for a surgical plane of anesthesia, any advantages of this agent may be outweighed by the cost per volume of inhalant needed (Sellers et al, 2013).…”