Atropine-medetomidine-ketamine for balanced anaesthesia in neonatal calves: Cardiovascular and electroencephalographic studies

The present study was conducted on 13 apparently healthy neonatal male calves. Following atropinization, the animals were administered medetomidine HCl and ketamine HCl combination in a single syringe i.m., @ 0.015 mg/kg and 10.0 mg/kg, respectively. There was initial rise of blood pressure after the administration of atropine and a significant hypotension was recorded following medetomidine + ketamine administration. There was an overall increase in different time interval parameters and voltage parameters of ECG. However, these changes were statistically non-significant. ST-segment elevation and biphasic T-wave were observed. One animal showed atrial flutter at 75 min interval. EEG studies revealed low voltage high frequency waves changing to low voltage low frequency waves with burst suppressions indicating surgical state of anaesthesia. It was concluded that atropine-medetomidine-ketamine can safely be used in bovine neonates for achieving surgical anaesthesia in clinical practice.