Meperidine-acepromazine-pentobarbital anesthesia in cats: reversal by 4-aminopyridine and yohimbine
Hatch, R.C.; Zahner, J.M.; Booth, N.H.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 45(12): 2658-2662
1984
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 6524759 Document Number: 239307
Groups of atropinized cats (6/group) were given i/m meperidine (5.5. mg/kg) plus acepromazine (0.25 mg/kg). Forty minutes later, they were anaesthetized to disappearance of pedal reflexes with 1% pentobarbital i/v. Five minutes later, they were given i/v saline solution (2 ml; control group), the antagonists 4-aminopyridine (4-AP; 0.5 mg/kg), yohimbine (0.4 mg/kg), or a combination of 0.5 mg of 4-AP/kg plus 0.4 mg of yohimbine/kg. Meperidine plus acepromazine caused mydriasis and mild sedation without ataxia or marked protrusion of the 3rd eyelid. The cats did not resist restraint for venipuncture. The pooled mean dosage level of pentobarbital required for anaesthesia was 12.3 mg/kg. The combination of 4-AP plus yohimbine produced a qualitatively better reversal of anaesthesia than 4-AP or yohimbine alone. Meperindine-acepromazine-pentobarbital anaesthesia may prove suitable for short surgical procedures in healthy cats. The anaesthetic state can be smoothly and permanently reversed within minutes with 4-AP plus yohimbine without side effects.