The animals were anesthetized with isoflurane, and thermodilution catheters were placed for measurement of central venous, pulmonary, and pulmonary capillary wedge pressures and for determination of cardiac output. The dorsal pedal artery was catheterized for measurement of arterial blood pressures and blood gas tensions.
Baseline variables were recorded, and medetomidine (20 mug/kg of body weight, IM) was administered. Hemodynamic measurements were repeated 15 and 30 minutes after medetomidine administration.
Heart rate, cardiac index, stroke index, rate-pressure product, and right and left ventricular stroke work index significantly decreased from baseline after medetomidine administration, whereas systemic vascular resistance and central venous pressure increased.
However, systolic, mean, and diastolic arterial pressures as well as arterial pH, and oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions were not significantly different from baseline values.
Recording to these results, medetomidine (20 mug/kg, IM) induced a significant decrease in cardiac output, stroke volume, and heart rate when administered alone to clinically normal cats.
Source: LA Lamont, BJ Bulmer, KA Grimm, WJ Tranquilli, DD Sisson (2002): Cardiopulmonary evaluation of the use of medetomidine hydrochloride in cats. In: American Journal of Veterinary Research, 2001, Vol 62, Iss 11, pp 1745-1749
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