ABSTRACT: This study assessed the impact of different recumbency on sevoflurane-anaesthetised sheep. Seven female sheep were premedicated with 0.1 mg.kg-1 butorfanol and subsequently administered a combination of 3 mg.kg-1 ketamine and 0.5 mg.kg-1 midazolam. Animals were maintained on sevoflurane anaesthesia with pressure-controlled ventilation (12 cm H2O peak inspiratory pressure) and ƒ of 10 mpm. During the anaesthetic procedure, animals underwent one out of three different recumbency:

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... left lateral, or right lateral positions. Treatments lasted 120 min with a 48-h washout period in between the treatments. Arterial and central venous blood samples were withdrawn for blood gas and electrolytes analysis and pulmonary shunt fraction (Qs/Qt) CaO2, CcvO2, and CcO2 were calculated accordingly. Results showed that Qs/Qt greatly decreased from 0 to 120 min in all the groups (dorsal: 69.3% to 27.3%; left lateral: 59.1% to 25.0%; right lateral: 67.2% to 32.4%). CaO2, CcvO2 and CcO2 improved over time points, with no difference among treatments. PaO2 and PAO2 showed higher values for 60 and 120 min compared to the 0 min value in all groups, with no differences among treatments as well. PaCO2 and ETCO2 in the lateral groups were higher than those in the dorsal group at 120 min. Pressure-controlled ventilation improved gas exchanges in sheep, thereby reducing pulmonary shunt. Recumbency did not interfere with pulmonary shunt, nevertheless, special attention must be paid to lateral recumbency.