Comparison of Anesthetic Protocols Using Isoflurane versus Total Injectable Anesthesia Using Hydromorphone, Alfaxalone, and Midazolam for Radiotelemetry Surgery in Northern Non-Coastal Pinesnakes (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus).

Volatile anesthetic gases utilized to maintain a surgical plane of anesthesia are often associated with significant cardiopulmonary (CP) effects in reptiles. Total injectable anesthesia may be a safe alternative with less CP sequelae and shorter recovery. This retrospective study compared two anesthetic protocols for surgical implantation or removal of a radiotransmitter in non-coastal northern pinesnakes (Pituophis melanoleucus melanoleucus). Subjects were maintained with isoflurane alone or in combination with other anesthetics (ISO) or total injectable anesthesia using hydromorphone 0.5-1 mg/kg, alfaxalone 10-20 mg/kg, and midazolam 1-2 mg/kg (HAM). Ten snakes and 16 anesthetic episodes were included in the study, with eight anesthetic episodes included in each treatment group. Six snakes underwent both ISO and HAM treatments, with a minimum of 39 weeks between treatments. All patients were monitored with Doppler for heart rate (HR) and capnography for end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2). All data were evaluated for normality with a Shapiro-Wilk test and analyzed with a two-sample one tailed t test with alpha set at 0.05. Both HR and ETCO2 were significantly lower in ISO compared to HAM (P < 0.05). Apnea was not noted in the majority (6/8) of HAM. The total anesthetic time through recovery was significantly longer (P < 0.05) in ISO (168.9 ± 32.7 min) compared to HAM (113.3 ± 27.4 min) with no statistical difference in total surgery times (P = 0.058). Total injectable anesthesia appears to be safe and effective for healthy northern pinesnakes undergoing brief and routine surgical procedures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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