Work

Comparative analysis of anesthetic protocols in spontaneously hypertensive rats with sepsis-induced hemodynamic instability

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Introduction: Sepsis remains a significant clinical challenge characterized by complex inflammatory responses and hemodynamic instability, often modeled via cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). This study investigated the cardiovascular impacts of various anesthetic protocols in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) subjected to abdominal sepsis. Methods: Septic SHR were allocated into five anesthetic groups: ketamine-xylazine, fentanyl-diazepam, fentanyl-dexmedetomidine, ketamine-dexmedetomidine, and inhaled isoflurane (2-3%), alongside an unanesthetized septic control. Evaluations included electrocardiography, arterial blood pressure monitoring, blood gas analysis, biochemical profiling, mesenteric vascular reactivity, and histopathology of the heart, kidney, and aorta. Results: Injectable combinations (ketamine-xylazine, fentanyl-diazepam, fentanyl-dexmedetomidine, and ketamine-dexmedetomidine) induced significant electrocardiographic alterations, hypotension, tissue hypoxia, increased oxidative stress, and elevated serum creatinine. Conversely, isoflurane-anesthetized rats maintained hemodynamic and biochemical stability, showing no significant deviations from the septic control group. Conclusion: Isoflurane demonstrated superior cardiovascular safety in hypertensive rats during sepsis-induced instability. These findings suggest that while isoflurane is the preferred anesthetic for this specific model, protocol selection must be tailored to the experimental context.

Source: Frontiers in Veterinary Science

DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2026.1866908