Treatment of hypoxemia during anesthesia of brown bears (Ursus arctos)

J Zoo Wildl Med. 2010 Mar;41(1):161-4. doi: 10.1638/2009-0036.1.

Abstract

This study assessed whether arterial oxygenation could be increased by treatment with intranasal oxygen supplementation in brown bears (Ursus arctos) with hypoxemia during anesthesia with medetomidine-zolazepam-tiletamine. Arterial blood samples were collected anaerobically from the femoral artery before and during oxygen supplementation. An oxygen flow rate of 2-5 L/min administered intranasally to brown bears weighing 12-120 kg markedly increased arterial oxygenation. Intranasal oxygen supplementation proved to be a simple and efficient method for treatment of hypoxemia in anesthetized bears.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Anesthesia, General / adverse effects
  • Anesthesia, General / veterinary*
  • Animals
  • Female
  • Hypoxia / therapy
  • Hypoxia / veterinary*
  • Male
  • Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / veterinary*
  • Ursidae*