Journal of Anesthesiology and Pain

Aims and Background: Concurrent use of multiple drugs can reduce the dose and minimize side effects of anesthetic drugs.This study investigated the effects of using tramadol before ketamine anesthesia in rabbits.

Methods and materials: In this study 12 New Zealand white rabbits weighing approximately 2/5-3 Kg in 2 groups of 6 animals were used. In the first group five minutes after tramadol injection, ketamine was used but in the second group the same volume of saline was used instead of tramadol. The time course of induction, anesthesia, recovery, getting up and physiological parameters were recorded at 0-10-20-30-40-50-60- 90 minutes intervals. Data analysis was done with SPSS software and the significance level of independent-sample T test was considered to be less than 0.05.

Findings: Induction time (p=0/563), anesthetic duration (p=0/681), recovery period (p=0/931) and Standing interval (p=674) were not significantly different between the groups, but heart rate, respiration rate and rectal temperature were different between the two groups.

Conclusions: According to our results , use of Tramadol before ketamine anesthesia causes a significant change in heart rate, respiration and rectal temperature . As these factors are influential in the process of anesthesia so tramadol consumption may be recommended.