A retrospective case series of computer-controlled total intravenous anaesthesia in dogs presented for neurosurgery

This article describes the anaesthetic management and use of total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) for neurosurgery in 4 dogs. Propofol in conjunction with morphine was used for the maintenance of anaesthesia. Anaesthesia was induced with either thiopentone or propofol. The program Stelpump (a target-controlled infusion program) was run on a laptop and connected to a syringe driver via an RS 232 cable. The program was found to be reliable and safe for the administration of TIVA in dogs. Invasive monitoring was required in order to monitor cardiovascular changes during surgery. Ventilation was controlled to maintain the end-tidal carbon dioxide below 40 mm Hg. The anaesthesia was characterised by haemodynamic stability. The haemodynamic stability was probably the result of the choice of TIVA and balanced anaesthesia. Intracranial pressure and oedema was controlled with dexamethasone, mannitol and ventilatory management either in combination or alone. Three dogs survived to hospital discharge and 1 dog was euthanased 2 weeks later due to tumour metastasis. The development and characterisation of the anaesthetic effects of TIVA needs to be elucidated in order to provide clinicians with rational guidelines for the appropriate use of TIVA in veterinary medicine.