Blood profile in green iguanas after short-term anaesthesia with propofol

Blood haematology and plasma chemistry profiles were examined in a group of ten 17 months-old green iguanas two minutes before propofol administration (10 mg/kg of body weight) and two minutes after recovery from anaesthesia. The induction time was very short (35.50 ± 22.54 s), the recovery time was 21.50 ± 7.44 minutes. At five and fifteen minutes of anaesthesia there was a considerable drop in the heart rate. The most marked drop, however, was noted during the tenth minute. Following the administration of propofol green iguanas showed marked changes in the respiratory frequency that were not accompanied by any changes in the levels of SpO2. RBC (1.06 ± 0.08 vs. 1.21 ± 0.06 1012/l) were decreased with a high significance (P < 0.01) two minutes after recovery from the propofol anaesthesia. At the same time there was a significant (P < 0.05) decrease of haemoglobin concentration (76.70 ± 13.39 vs. 83.73 ± 9.24 g/l) and PCV (0.34 ± 0.04 vs. 0.36 ± 0.04 l/l) as well as a significant (P < 0.05) increase of WBC (7.95 ± 3.38 vs. 5.20 ± 2.52 109/l), heterophils (3.14 ± 1.48 vs. 1.43 ± 0.43 109/l) and basophils (0.60 ± 0.53 vs. 0.23 ± 0.17 109/l). The following parameters increased two minutes after anaesthesia with a high significance (P < 0.01): plasma concentration of total protein (55.12 ± 5.94 vs. 49.02 ± 3.54 g/l), uric acid (231.07 ± 77.69 vs. 157.58 ± 60.58 µmol/l), AST (1.23 ± 0.52 vs. 0.67 ± 0.34 µkat/l), TAG (3.37 ± 1.11 vs. 1.48 ± 0.78 mmol/l), phosphorus (2.29 ± 0.38 vs. 1.85 ± 0.35 mmol/l). The increase in plasma calcium levels (3.51 ± 0.11 vs. 3.21 ± 0.23 mmol/l) was significant at the level of P < 0.05. All the measured values were within the reference range of healthy green iguanas.