RETROSPECTIVE REVIEW OF PROPOFOL ANESTHESIA IN MULTIPLE ELASMOBRANCH SPECIES AT GEORGIA AQUARIUM, 2010–2022

• DOI: 10.1638/2022-0136
• Publication Date: 2023-07-07T12:46:42Z
• Authors: Laura A.B. Aguilar; Cara L. Field; Alexa J. Delaune; Roxane A. Aflalo; Adrienne Atkins; Tonya M. Clauss
• Keywords: Carcharhinus; Carcharias; Stingray

General anesthesia is often required in elasmobranch species for medical procedures. A variety of anesthetic drugs have been administered to elasmobranchs with wide variability efficacy and safety. retrospective review 47 procedures using IV propofol eight different at the Georgia Aquarium from 2010 2022 was performed. Cases involving seven sand tiger sharks (Carcharias taurus), four largetooth sawfish (Pristis perotteti), one longcomb zijsron), blacktip reef (Carcharhinus melanopterus), three silvertip albimarginatus), sandbar shark plumbeus), five cownose rays (Rhinoptera bonasus), blotched fantail stingray (Taeniura meyeni) were evaluated. Induction dose (median: 2.5; 25-75%: 2.3-3.0; range: 1.7-4.0 mg/kg), time desired effect 4.0; 2.0-5.0; 0.5-15.0 min) duration 76.0; 61.5-119.0; 27-216 reported all species. In six (12.7%), maintenance plane a supplemental (1 mg/kg) or addition tricaine methanesulfonate (70 mg/L) as an immersion bath. The most common side effects apnea prolonged recovery. efficacious provided procedural clinically relevant period majority species, but observation management complications warranted.