The aim of this study is to evaluate the combination of midazolam and propofol anesthesia as a safe anesthetic protocol for performing abdominal surgery in sheep. To achieve this purpose, five mature non-pregnant ewes were administered intravenously with a dose of 3mg/kg propofol, 10 min after administration of 0.6mg/kg midazolam as a premedication. During the period of anaesthesia, these animals were subjected to the standard rumenotomy technique. The evaluation criteria included changes in heart and respiratory rates, rectal temperature, different body reflexes, and changes in hepatic enzymes activities. Scoring for sedation, induction and recovery were also recorded. The result showed that midazolam induced good sedation in 4/5 of the injected sheep. In addition, propofol induced profound smooth anaesthesia in 4/5 of the injected sheep. The average full recovery time was 48.6 minutes and the average period of surgical rumenotomy was 28 minutes. The heart rate was significantly increased after propofol anesthesia while the respiratory rate was significantly reduced. Rectal temperature was not significantly changed. These parameters returned to normal values after recovery. Serum hepatic enzymatic activities of ALT and AST were non-significantly increased during the period of anaesthesia and then return to decline at the recovery time (start with the walking and swallowing). It was concluded that, the intravenous anesthesia with midazolam / propofol combination in sheep, is a feasible protocol to perform short term surgical procedures under field conditions with smooth, rapid recovery and without causing adverse effects on clinical status and the hepatic enzymatic activities of the anaesthetized sheep. |
