Assessing ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath diameter in animal model with anesthesia regimens

To determine the normal optical nerve sheath (ONS) diameter ultrasonography (ONSUS) and evaluate the possible effects of drugs on ONS diameter during anesthetic induction in healthy pigs.

Healthy piglets were divided into three groups: a control group, that received xylazine and ketamine (X/K); other that received xylazine, ketamine and propofol (X/K/P); and a third group that received xylazine, ketamine, and thiopental (X/K/T). The sheath diameter was assessed by ultrasonography calculating the average of three measurements of each eye from the left and right sides.

118 animals were anesthetized (49 X/K 33 X/K/P and 39 X/K/T). Mean ONS sizes on both sides in each group were 0.394 ± 0.048 (X/K), 0.407 ± 0.029 (X/K/P) and 0.378 ± 0.042 cm (X/K/T) (medians of 0.400, 0.405 and 0.389, respectively). The ONS diameter varied from 0.287-0.512 cm (mean of 0.302 ± 0.039 cm). For group X/K, the mean diameter was 0.394 ± 0.048 cm. Significant differences in ONS sizes between the groups P and T (X/K/P > X/K/T, p = 0.003) were found. No statistically significant differences were detected when other groups were compared (X/K = X/K/P, p = 0.302; X/K = X/K/T, p = 0.294).

Sedation with thiopental lead to significative ONS diameter reduction in comparison with propofol. ONSUS may be useful to evaluate responses to thiopental administration.