Sixteen Merino ewes (43.5 ± 6.2 kg) were fasted overnight for the study. Procedures involving animal care, data capture, and anesthetic and surgical techniques, including placement of microdialysis catheters and microdialysis, were done in accordance with previously described methods (13 (link)). At the commencement of the study, all animals were anesthetized with midazolam (0.5 mg/kg; Pfizer), buprenorphine (300 μg; Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare), and alfaxalone (3 mg/kg; Jurox). Anesthesia was maintained with an infusion of alfaxalone (6 mg/kg/h; Jurox), midazolam (0.25 mg/kg/h; Pfizer), fentanyl (15 μg/kg/h; Hameln Pharmaceuticals), and ketamine (10 mg/kg/h; Troy Laboratories). All anesthetic and analgesic medications were titrated to maintain adequate surgical anesthesia.
A central venous catheter (Arrow International), facial artery arterial catheter (Arterial Leadercath, Vygon), and pulmonary artery catheter (Swan-Ganz CCOmbo, Edwards Lifesciences) were inserted to facilitate drug administration and cardiovascular monitoring.
Microdialysis catheters (CMA 63 and 70 MD probes) were surgically inserted into the femoral artery, brain, heart, liver, and left kidney.
Throughout the study, all animals received protocolized ventilation to maintain an SaO2 of >94% and an end-tidal CO2 of 35−45 mm Hg.
A central venous catheter (Arrow International), facial artery arterial catheter (Arterial Leadercath, Vygon), and pulmonary artery catheter (Swan-Ganz CCOmbo, Edwards Lifesciences) were inserted to facilitate drug administration and cardiovascular monitoring.
Microdialysis catheters (CMA 63 and 70 MD probes) were surgically inserted into the femoral artery, brain, heart, liver, and left kidney.
Throughout the study, all animals received protocolized ventilation to maintain an SaO2 of >94% and an end-tidal CO2 of 35−45 mm Hg.
