Sedazione profonda per chirurgie in stazione quadrupedale nel cavallo: due protocolli a confronto

In order to avoid the high risk of general anaesthesia, surgical or diagnostic procedures should be performed in the standing sedated horse, whenever feasible. Romifidine, xylazine and detomidine are alpha2-agonists frequently administered to restrain horses for clinical management. For longer sedation they often need to be administered repeatedly, resulting in possible major cardiovascular compromise and ataxia. The present study aim to compare two continuous infusion regimens for detomidine and romifidine, administered to induce a steady state plasma concentration to provide deep, safe and stable sedation in 77 standing horses undergoing elective surgery.