Field Anesthesia of Juvenile Steller Sea Lions Using Inhalation Anesthesia

Pharmacokinetics

Abstract

Between 1998 and 2008, 621 Steller sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus, SSL) were captured underwater by SCUBA divers and anesthetized with isoflurane (n = 602) or sevoflurane (n = 19). We found significantly faster induction time (x ± SD) for sevoflurane (11 ± 6 min) compared to isoflurane (14 ± 6 min), as well as an interaction between anesthetists using the isoflurane protocol. Severe hypothermia with temperatures <35°C were measured in 22% of all animals, and had significant associations with month, length of anesthesia, and sex. Mortality rate was low (0.33%). We conclude that both isoflurane and sevoflurane anesthesia were effective for field anesthesia to safely handle and sample SSL.

Lian, M., Johnson, S, Gelatt, T., O’Hara, T., Beckman, K.B., Rea, L.D. 2018. Field anesthesia of juvenile Stellar sea lions (Eumetopias jubatus) using inhalation anesthesia. Marine Mammal Science 34(1): 125-135.

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