Abstract / Summary
This study compared intraosseous (IO) propofol with inhalational isoflurane anesthesia in 12 healthy male New Zealand White rabbits, evaluating clinical performance, physiological stability, and factors predicting recovery. Animals were randomly assigned to receive either intraosseous propofol or isoflurane for a 30-minute anesthetic period, and cardiopulmonary variables were recorded every 5 minutes. Loss of pedal and palpebral reflexes occurred faster with propofol, with mean times of 1.15 minutes and 0.47 minutes, compared with 2.03 minutes and 1.02 minutes with isoflurane (p < 0.05). The total duration of anesthesia was longer with propofol (36.33 minutes versus 33.58 minutes; p < 0.05), as was recovery time (6.92 minutes versus 5.00 minutes; p < 0.05). Anesthesia and recovery quality scores showed no significant differences (p > 0.05). Propofol produced higher early post-induction heart rates (p < 0.05) and greater temperature fluctuations, whereas isoflurane maintained higher oxygen saturation throughout anesthesia (p < 0.05). Predictive modelling showed that changes in oxygen saturation and rectal temperature independently predicted recovery time (p < 0.05). Logistic regression classified recovery quality with 85.4 percent accuracy, identifying changes in heart rate, respiratory rate, and oxygen saturation as significant predictors (all p < 0.05). Decision tree analysis achieved 88.9 percent accuracy and ranked changes in oxygen saturation and rectal temperature as the strongest determinants of recovery quality. Overall, intraosseous propofol provided rapid induction and acceptable stability but required closer support to maintain body temperature and oxygenation. Isoflurane offered better control of oxygen saturation and temperature. The modelling results highlight the importance of maintaining adequate oxygen saturation, body temperature, and respiratory stability to optimize recovery from anesthesia in rabbits.