Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function in mules under general anesthesia induced with a high-dose xylazine-based protocol
Background and Aim: Echocardiographic assessment in equines is typically performed on standing animals; however, no studies have evaluated left ventricular function in anesthetized mules using high-dose xylazine. Given the unique pharmacokinetics in mules and their higher anesthetic requirements, th...
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Veterinary World
2025-07-01
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| Online Access: | https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.18/July-2025/14.pdf |
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| author | Pannawat Puangsubsin Ashannut Isawirodom Porrakote Rungsri Nuttapon Satumay Aree Laikul Worakij Cherdchutham |
| author_facet | Pannawat Puangsubsin Ashannut Isawirodom Porrakote Rungsri Nuttapon Satumay Aree Laikul Worakij Cherdchutham |
| author_sort | Pannawat Puangsubsin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and Aim: Echocardiographic assessment in equines is typically performed on standing animals; however, no studies have evaluated left ventricular function in anesthetized mules using high-dose xylazine. Given the unique pharmacokinetics in mules and their higher anesthetic requirements, this study aimed to assess the effects of acepromazine-xylazine-diazepam-ketamine anesthesia, using the upper limit xylazine dose (1.6 mg/kg), on the left ventricular size and function in mules.
Materials and Methods: Six healthy adult mules (18.83 ± 0.75 years; 263.83 ± 39.34 kg) were evaluated using standard two-dimensional and M-mode transthoracic echocardiography. Measurements were obtained before sedation (standing) and 13-min post-anesthetic induction (dorsal recumbency). Each mule received an intravenous injection of acepromazine (0.04 mg/kg), xylazine (1.6 mg/kg), diazepam (0.1 mg/kg), and ketamine (2.2 mg/kg). Key echocardiographic parameters included interventricular septum thickness (interventricular septum in diastole and interventricular septum in systole), left ventricular internal diameters (left ventricular internal diameter in diastole and left ventricular internal diameter in systole [LVIDs]), posterior wall thickness (left ventricular posterior wall in diastole and left ventricular posterior wall in systole), ejection fraction (EF), and fractional shortening (FS). Statistical comparisons were made using paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (p < 0.05).
Results: Heart rate, EF, and FS significantly decreased post-anesthesia (p < 0.01), indicating reduced systolic function. Specifically, LVIDs increased from 4.60 ± 0.65 cm to 6.26 ± 0.48 cm (p < 0.01), while no significant changes were observed in diastolic parameters or respiratory rate. Anesthetic induction was smooth and graded as good to excellent in all cases.
Conclusion: High-dose xylazine significantly suppressed systolic cardiac function in anesthetized mules without causing arrhythmias or bradyarrhythmia. The combination protocol was effective and provided safe anesthesia induction, with echocardiography proving feasible under dorsal recumbency. These findings support the cautious use of upper-limit xylazine dosing in mules and suggest echocardiographic monitoring as a valuable tool during anesthesia. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ebb4aacb6de84c19ae26d11ab88164dd |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 0972-8988 2231-0916 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-07-01 |
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| spelling | doaj-art-ebb4aacb6de84c19ae26d11ab88164dd2025-08-20T03:14:12ZengVeterinary WorldVeterinary World0972-89882231-09162025-07-011871936194310.14202/vetworld.2025.1936-1943Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function in mules under general anesthesia induced with a high-dose xylazine-based protocolPannawat Puangsubsin0https://orcid.org/0009-0002-1455-8008Ashannut Isawirodom1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8775-198XPorrakote Rungsri2https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4641-2812Nuttapon Satumay3Aree Laikul4https://orcid.org/0009-0004-6311-9903Worakij Cherdchutham5https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9317-3503Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.Department of Companion Animal and Wildlife Clinic, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.Department of Companion Animal and Wildlife Clinic, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai, Thailand.Veterinarian of the Royal Stable Unit, The Royal Thai Army, Bangkok, Thailand.Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.Department of Large Animal and Wildlife Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Kasetsart University, Kamphaeng Saen Campus, Nakhon Pathom, Thailand.Background and Aim: Echocardiographic assessment in equines is typically performed on standing animals; however, no studies have evaluated left ventricular function in anesthetized mules using high-dose xylazine. Given the unique pharmacokinetics in mules and their higher anesthetic requirements, this study aimed to assess the effects of acepromazine-xylazine-diazepam-ketamine anesthesia, using the upper limit xylazine dose (1.6 mg/kg), on the left ventricular size and function in mules. Materials and Methods: Six healthy adult mules (18.83 ± 0.75 years; 263.83 ± 39.34 kg) were evaluated using standard two-dimensional and M-mode transthoracic echocardiography. Measurements were obtained before sedation (standing) and 13-min post-anesthetic induction (dorsal recumbency). Each mule received an intravenous injection of acepromazine (0.04 mg/kg), xylazine (1.6 mg/kg), diazepam (0.1 mg/kg), and ketamine (2.2 mg/kg). Key echocardiographic parameters included interventricular septum thickness (interventricular septum in diastole and interventricular septum in systole), left ventricular internal diameters (left ventricular internal diameter in diastole and left ventricular internal diameter in systole [LVIDs]), posterior wall thickness (left ventricular posterior wall in diastole and left ventricular posterior wall in systole), ejection fraction (EF), and fractional shortening (FS). Statistical comparisons were made using paired t-tests and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (p < 0.05). Results: Heart rate, EF, and FS significantly decreased post-anesthesia (p < 0.01), indicating reduced systolic function. Specifically, LVIDs increased from 4.60 ± 0.65 cm to 6.26 ± 0.48 cm (p < 0.01), while no significant changes were observed in diastolic parameters or respiratory rate. Anesthetic induction was smooth and graded as good to excellent in all cases. Conclusion: High-dose xylazine significantly suppressed systolic cardiac function in anesthetized mules without causing arrhythmias or bradyarrhythmia. The combination protocol was effective and provided safe anesthesia induction, with echocardiography proving feasible under dorsal recumbency. These findings support the cautious use of upper-limit xylazine dosing in mules and suggest echocardiographic monitoring as a valuable tool during anesthesia.https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.18/July-2025/14.pdfanesthesiaechocardiographyejection fractionfractional shorteningmuleventricular functionxylazine |
| spellingShingle | Pannawat Puangsubsin Ashannut Isawirodom Porrakote Rungsri Nuttapon Satumay Aree Laikul Worakij Cherdchutham Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function in mules under general anesthesia induced with a high-dose xylazine-based protocol Veterinary World anesthesia echocardiography ejection fraction fractional shortening mule ventricular function xylazine |
| title | Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function in mules under general anesthesia induced with a high-dose xylazine-based protocol |
| title_full | Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function in mules under general anesthesia induced with a high-dose xylazine-based protocol |
| title_fullStr | Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function in mules under general anesthesia induced with a high-dose xylazine-based protocol |
| title_full_unstemmed | Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function in mules under general anesthesia induced with a high-dose xylazine-based protocol |
| title_short | Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function in mules under general anesthesia induced with a high-dose xylazine-based protocol |
| title_sort | echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular function in mules under general anesthesia induced with a high dose xylazine based protocol |
| topic | anesthesia echocardiography ejection fraction fractional shortening mule ventricular function xylazine |
| url | https://www.veterinaryworld.org/Vol.18/July-2025/14.pdf |
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