The cardiovascular effects of propofol, an intravenous anaesthetic, on the electrocardiogram and blood pressure of cats during and after anaesthesia were studied. Twenty healthy adult cats were premedicated with acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg SC), induced with propofol (6 mg/kg IV), and maintained under anaesthesia with continuous infusion of the same drug (0.5 mg/kg/min) for 90 minutes. Doppler blood pressure and an electrocardiogram were obtained before the procedure (T1), 30 minutes (T2) and 60 minutes (T3) after initiation of the infusion, and 30 minutes after infusion interruption (T4). Data were analyzed using the variance analysis (ANOVA), and the medium comparison done by Tukey's test. A significant decrease in heart rate was observed in all measures when compared with T1 data. The PR interval significantly increased in T3 and T4. Blood pressure values obtained during the anaesthesia were significantly lower than those measured in T1 and T4. Considering the cardiovascular effects, the use of continuous infusion of propofol in clinically healthy cats is safe. Given its capacity to induce hypotension and bradycardia, it should be used cautiously in hypovolemic animals, and neonates and elderly animals due to their lower compensatory capacity.

Funding was provided by FAPESP.