Cardiovascular effects of dexmedetomidine, with or without MK-467, following intravenous administration in cats.

OBJECTIVE: To characterize the cardiovascular effects of dexmedetomidine, with or without MK-467, following intravenous (IV) administration in cats.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective Latin square experimental study.

ANIMALS: Six healthy adult purpose-bred cats.

METHODS: Cats were anesthetized with desflurane in oxygen for instrumentation with a carotid artery catheter and a thermodilution catheter in the pulmonary artery. One hour after discontinuation of desflurane, cats were administered dexmedetomidine (25 μg kg-1 ), MK-467 (600 μg kg-1 ), or dexmedetomidine (25 μg kg-1 ) and MK-467 (600 μg kg-1 ). All treatments were administered IV as a bolus. Cardiovascular variables were measured prior to drug administration and for 8 hours thereafter. Only data from the dexmedetomidine and dexmedetomidine-MK-467 treatments were analyzed.

RESULTS: Dexmedetomidine produced significant decreases in heart rate, cardiac index and right ventricular stroke work index, and significant increases in arterial blood pressure, central venous pressure, pulmonary artery pressure and systemic vascular resistance index. Dexmedetomidine combined with MK-467 resulted in significant but transient decrease in blood pressure and right ventricular stroke work index.

CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Following IV co-administration, MK-467 effectively attenuated dexmedetomidine-induced cardiovascular effects in cats. The drug combination resulted in transient reduction in arterial blood pressure, without causing hypotension.