[Comparative studies of general anesthesia of sheep with ketamine and etomidate]

The studies were carried out on 48 sheep, 2-6 years old, weighing 33-67 kg. The animals were divided into two groups, 24 sheep each. From these 24, 16 sheep were tested for the plasma electrolytes contents, and 8 were tested for the acid-base balance and the oxygenation level of the arterial blood. Sheep from the first group were given xylasine in the dose of 0.1-10.3 mg/kg od body weight and etomidate (1 mg/kg of body weight). Sheep from the second group were given diazepam in the dose of 0.5 mg/kg of body weight and ketamine (20 mg/kg of body weight). In the first group the surgically effective anaesthesia lasting 15-20 minutes was obtained. During the anaesthesia a respiratory depression together with the decrease of oxygen saturation of the blood was observed. Also, a respiratory insufficiency leading to a respiratory acidosis, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia, hypomagnesemia and hypochloremia of plasma were observed. In the second group of sheep treated with ketamine and diazepam the increased pulse rate, respiratory insufficiency, hypokalemia, hypocalcemia and hypophosphatemia were observed. It has been said that respiratory and blood oxygenation disorders are the result of the forced long lasting position on one side. After treating with diazepam and ketamine bigger changes were observed. Usually all these changes and disorders recessed at the end of the experiment.