Effects of carbon dioxide insufflation combined with changes in body position on blood gas and acid-base status in anesthetized llamas (Llama glama)

OBJECTIVE: To study the combined effects of intra-abdominal CO2 insufflation with changes in body position during laparoscopy in xylazine-ketamine-halothane anesthetized llamas. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, controlled study. ANIMALS: Nine castrated, male llamas weighing 114 +/- 23 kg, 3 to 13 years old. METHODS: Three llamas (preliminary study PS] group) were used to study the effect of right, lateral, dorsal, and left lateral recumbency on gas exchange and acid-base status. The other six (experimental study ES] group) were used to study the combined effects of changes in body position and CO2 insufflation to an intraabdominal pressure of 10 to 12 mm Hg. Heart rate, respiratory rate, and indirect arterial blood pressures (systolic SAP], mean MAP], and diastolic DAP]) were recorded every 5 minutes during anesthesia. Arterial blood gases (PaO2 and PaCO2) and acid-base status (pHa and HCO3-) were measured immediately after induction of anesthesia and before each change of position. RESULTS: In the PS group, significant decreases in SAP, MAP and PaCO2 and increases in PaO2 and pHa were observed when the llamas were turned from right lateral to dorsal recumbency. Values for HCO3- were lower than the postinduction values, but they remained unaffected by the changes in position. In the ES group, values for MAP were significantly lower when the llamas were placed in dorsal and left lateral recumbency than those observed during right lateral recumbency. Arterial O2 tension during right lateral recumbency was lower but returned to preinsufflation values when the llamas were placed in the dorsal position. All llamas recovered uneventfully within 30 minutes after termination of anesthesia. CONCLUSIONS: Insufflation of CO2 and changing body position induce minor and transient changes in cardiovascular and respiratory function. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Laparoscopy with mild intra-abdominal CO2 insufflation (10 to 12 mm Hg) can be used safely in spontaneously breathing llamas anesthetized with xylazine, ketamine, and halothane.