Isofluran cp

The preparation of the dorsal skinfold chamber and repeated intravital fluorescence microscopy were executed under inhalational anesthesia (EZ-7000 Classic System, PLEXX, Elst, The Netherlands) by isoflurane (Isofluran CP®, cp pharma, Burgdorf, Germany). After the animals were placed in an induction chamber anesthesia was induced with 5% isoflurane until loss of righting reflex. The anesthesia depth was determined with the aid of the toe pinch. After induction the animals were placed in appropriate position on a heating mat to protect them against hypothermia. Animals remained anesthetized with the aid of a nose cone with 2–3% isoflurane in oxygen.

Food but not water was withheld for six hours prior to anaesthesia. All horses were premedicated with xylazine 0.7 mg/kg IV (Xylavet, CP-Pharma, Burgdorf, Germany). Induction of anaesthesia was performed by ketamine 2.2 mg/kg IV (Narketan, Vetoquinol, Ismaning, Germany) and diazepam 0.1 mg/kg IV (Ziapam, Ecuphar, Greifswald, Germany). Following orotracheal intubation, the animals were hoisted to a padded air mattress, positioned in dorsal recumbency, and connected to a large animal anaesthesia machine (Vet.-Tec. Model LAVC 2000, J.D. Medical Distributing Company, Phoenix, AZ, USA) via a circle breathing system. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen (Isofluran CP, CP-Pharma, Burgdorf, Germany). Pressure cycled mechanical ventilation with positive inspiratory pressure (PIP) of 20–25 cmH₂O was initiated. Respiratory rate and PIP were adjusted to maintain an end-tidal carbon dioxide (PE’CO₂) between 4.7 and 6 kPa (35–45 mmHg). Standard anaesthetic monitoring included sidestream capnography, a lead II electrocardiogram, and inspiratory and end-expiratory gas concentrations displayed on a multiparameter monitor (Cardiocap 5 monitor, Datex-Ohmeda, Freiburg, Germany). The gas analyser was calibrated before each experiment by a 2-point calibration at expected concentrations (Quick Cal calibration gas, Datex, Helsinki, Finland).

After placing an intravenous catheter in the right cephalic vein, the cats were premedicated with 0.3 mg/kg MIDAzolame (MIDAzolam, B. Braun Melsungen AG, Melsungen, Germany) and 0.15 mg/kg levomethadone combined with 0.0075 mg/kg fenpipramide (L-Polamivet^®, Intervet Deutschland GmbH, Unterschleißheim, Germany). Anaesthesia was then induced with propofol (Narcofol^®, CP-Pharma GmbH, Burgdorf, Germany) to effect intravenously. The cats were intubated and connected to a breathing circuit. Maintenance was performed with isoflurane (Isofluran CP^®, CP-Pharma GmbH, Burgdorf, Germany) in 100% oxygen. CO₂ values were kept between 35 and 45 mmHg by mechanical ventilation.

Weekly, the distal colon was exemplarily analysed by colonoscopy in two mice per group using a small animal endoscope (Karl Storz Endoskope Berlin, Berlin, Germany), starting at day 8. Mice were anesthetised using isoflurane (Isofluran CP^®, cp-pharma, Burgdorf, Germany). For comparability, colonoscopy was always performed with the same animals. Representative pictures were taken with the COLOVIEW^® System Mainz (Karl Storz).

All dogs underwent general anesthesia and received the same anesthesia protocol during the whole procedure. The patients received a peripheral intravenous catheter in one of the saphena lateralis veins. Anesthesia was induced with diazepam (Ziapam, 5 mg/ml, Ecuphar, Belgium) 0.5 mg/kg IV and propofol (Narcofol, 10 mg/ml, cp-pharma, Germany) IV titrated to effect. After endotracheal intubation of the animal, anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane (Isofluran CP, 1 ml/ml, cp-pharma, Germany) 1–3 Vol% and oxygen. All dogs were positioned in standardized ventral recumbency, with their front limbs extended caudally to achieve optimal visualization of the entire cervical spine. Hartmann et al. positioned dogs in dorsal recumbency, with their legs extended cranially (1 (link)). CT scans were performed from the head to T2 using a 16-slice helical CT scanner (Aquilion®, Canon medical systems GmbH, Germany).