To investigate the effect of some routinely used anesthetics on renal resistive index (RI), RI and blood pressure were evaluated in thirteen, clinically normal Beagle dogs. As previous reports showed there is no statistically significant relationship between mean RI of right and left kidney, only left kidney was evaluated in this study.

The mean RI values of normal dogs were 0.63±0.04. No significant relationship was found between RI versus blood pressure in normal dogs. The mean RI after etomidate, propofol, and thiopental administration were 0.62±0.04, 0.62±0.02 and 0.58±0.03, respectively. After etomidate or propofol administration, a significant RI value change was not found. But a significant decrease of RI following thiopental was observed compared to normal RI. There was a significant decrease of blood pressure with propofol administration. The mean RI of etomidate+isoflurane, propofol+isoflurane and thiopental+isoflurane were 0.56±0.04, 0.56±0.05 and 0.52±0.08, respectively. Decrease of RI after inhalation of isoflurane was statistically significant in all case. Blood pressure was significantly decreased compared to normal value.

Based on the results of the present study, it is considered that a care must be given when renal RI is evaluated using thiopental and combination of isoflurane with any intravenous anesthetics.

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