Continuous maintenance anaesthesia using guaifenesin or diazepam combined with xylazine and ketamine in horses

The study was done to clinically evaluate continuous maintenance of anaesthesia using guaifenesin or diazepam combined with xylazine and ketamine in horses. Twenty eight horses were randomly and equally divided into two groups, DKX (diazepam, ketamine and xylazine) and GKX (guaifenesin, ketamine and xylazine) of 14 animals each. The animals were evaluated on the basis of quality of anaesthesia, physiological observations and haematobiochemical observations. Induction and recovery parameters were also recorded. Majority of animals of GKX group had higher muscle relaxation score as compared to DKX group. There were nonsignificant decrease in heart rate, respiratory rate and rectal temperature throughout the duration of anaesthesia in both groups. Non-significant decrease in haemoglobin during maintenance anaesthesia was observed in both groups. The mean time of recovery in GKX group as compared to DKX group was shorter and more number of animals had excellent recovery in GKX group.