Biochemical and ultrasonographic evaluation of the effects of rocuronium bromide and butorphanol on the liver and gallbladder under medetomidine-ketamine-isoflurane anesthesia in dogs

In this thesis study, an anesthesia protocol was established by adding rocuronium bromide, a neuromuscular blocking agent, and butorphanol, an opioid with agonist-antagonist properties, to a medetomidine-ketamine-isoflurane anesthesia regimen. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effects of this protocol on biochemical and hematological parameters and to determine the influence of the anesthetic combinations on the hepatobiliary system during ultrasonographic examination particularly focusing on the thickness of the gallbladder wall. The study material consisted of 21 female dogs of various breeds, ages, and body weights. The dogs were randomly divided into three groups of seven animals each. All groups received 0.04 mg/kg IM medetomidine as preanesthetic medication and 10 mg/kg IM ketamine as the induction agent. Following induction, all animals were intubated using appropriately sized endotracheal tubes and connected to an anesthesia machine. Isoflurane was administered in 100% oxygen for maintenance of anesthesia. All animals were continuously monitored. In the second group, 0.6 mg/kg IV rocuronium bromide was administered; in the third group, 0.4 mg/kg SC butorphanol and 0.6 mg/kg IV rocuronium bromide were administered. Throughout anesthesia, respiratory rate, heart rate, body temperature, non-invasive blood pressure (NIBP), oxygen saturation (SpO₂), and end-tidal carbon dioxide (EtCO₂) were recorded. Complete blood count and biochemical parameters (ALP, ALT, BUN, CRE, GLU, TP) were evaluated before and during anesthesia. Ultrasonographic examinations were performed before and during anesthesia. The height, width, length, and wall thickness of the gallbladder were measured and recorded. Although a decrease in respiratory rate was observed in all groups, the difference was not statistically significant. Body temperature decreased significantly in all groups during anesthesia. While heart rate increased in the rocuronium bromide group, a significant decrease was observed in the butorphanol group. Despite changes in hematological and biochemical parameters across all groups, all values remained within reference ranges. There was no significant difference in gallbladder wall thickness between the pre-anesthesia and intra-anesthesia measurements. In conclusion, the addition of rocuronium bromide and butorphanol to the medetomidine-ketamine-isoflurane anesthesia protocol appeared to reduce the requirement for isoflurane. No clinically significant changes were observed in physiological parameters, complete blood count, or biochemical values across the groups.