Chemical restraint by medetomidine-ketamine and its cardiopulmonary effects in pigs

Chemical restraint induced by medetomidine-ketamine (M-K) combination was evaluated compared with that by xylazine-ketamine (X-K) in pigs. The duration of restraint by M-K was 49.4 +/- 13.5 min (mean +/- SD) and longer than that by X-K (34.6 +/- 17.2 min), but the difference was not significant. The effect of X-K was not stable, since one of five pigs was restrained only for 6 min. Both combinations produced muscle relaxation. The duration of muscle relaxation in M-K was 43.6 +/- 12.7 min and was significantly longer than that in X-K (21.0 +/- 14.0 min). M-K combination had a slightly stimulative effect on the cardiovascular system, but scarcely changed the respiratory parameters. This limited effect on cardiopulmonary system was an advantage of M-K combination for chemical restraint in pigs. These results indicated that M-K combination is suitable for chemical restraint with prolonged muscle relaxation and has limited cardiopulmonary effects in pigs.