Comparison of isoflurane and sevoflurane for anaesthesia in buffaloes undergoing diaphragmatic herniorrhaphy

The study was conducted in 12 adult female buffaloes suffering from diaphragmatic hernia (DH). The animals were randomly divided in two groups of six animals each. DH was repaired under general anaesthesia using glycopyrrholate-xylazinebutophanol-ketamine combination for induction and isoflurane or sevoflurane for maintenance in group KI and KS, respectively. Clinical, physiological and behavioural parameters were observed during herniorrhaphy and blood samples were collected for estimation of haematological and biochemical parameters at different intervals (before rumenotomy, before premedication, 5 min after ketamine, at 15 min and 30 min of inhalant anaesthesia, at recovery and at 24 hr of recovery. No significant difference was seen in sedation score, maintenance score, degree of muscle relaxation and quality of analgesia between groups due to maintenance agent during herniorrhaphy and postoperatively. The recovery and standing with ataxia in KS group were significantly earlier than in KI group. There was no significant difference in haematological and blood biochemical parameters due to maintenance agent. Similar trend continued in both groups. Except for cost, sevoflurane is a better maintenance agent than isoflurane.