We investigated the effect of constant rate infusion (CRI) with doxapram on cardiopulmonary function during total intravenous anesthesia (TIVA) with remifentanil and propofol CRI in dogs. Fifteen male Beagle dogs were randomly divided into 3 groups. All groups were premedicated with medetomidine (20 μg/kg, IV) and anesthetized by remifentanil/propofol CRI for one and half hour. At the initiating of the anesthesia, different doses of doxapram for each group were administrated as the followings; D1 group - doxapram 0.25 mg/kg bolus followed by doxapram 8.33 μg/kg/min, D2 group - doxapram 2 mg/kg bolus followed by doxapram 66.66 μg/kg/min, control group - normal saline. The anesthetic depth for surgery was well maintained in all groups throughout the anesthetic periods. The respiratory rate was significantly higher in D2 group than that of control group (p < 0.05). The values of PaO₂ and SaO₂ were significantly increased in both D1 and D2 groups compared with control group (p < 0.05). High dose of doxapram (D2 group) significantly decreased the level of PaCO₂ compared with control group (p < 0.05). The values of systolic, mean and diastolic arterial pressure were significantly increased in doxapram 2 group (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the values of heart rate and pH of arterial blood. Therefore, doxapram CRI may be useful to alleviate the suppression of cardiopulmonary function including hypoxia and hypotension during TIVA with remifentanil and propofol in dogs.

Keywords: dog, doxapram, propofol, remifentanil, TIVA