Abstract
The present study was performed to elucidate the effect of canine electroacupuncture anesthesia on vital signs and blood gas values. Groups were divided into experimental (electroacupuncture: EA) and control (ketamine) groups. The vital signs (body temperature, respiration rate and pulse) and blood gas values (pH, $pCO_2$ and $pO_2$) of venous and arterial blood were determined. Body temperatures of EA group were significant higher than than of ketamine group at 15 min., 30 min., 45min. and 60 min. (p<0.05) after anesthesia, respectively. The respiration rates of EA group were higher than those of ketamine group, however, significant differences were not observed between both groups. The pulses of EA group were significant higher than those of ketamine group at 5 min. (p<0.05), 10 min. (p<0.01), 15 min. and 30 min. (p<0.05) after anesthesia, respectively. The arterial and venous blood pHs of ketamine group were slightly higher than those of EA group, respectively, however, no significant differences were found between both groups. Significant differences were not observed between both groups in the arterial and venous blood $pCO_2$, respectively. The arterial blood $pO_2$ of EA group was significant higher than those of ketamine group at 5 min. (p<0.05) after anesthesia. No significant differences were observed between both groups in the venous blood $pO_2$. These results suggest that the changes of vital signs and blood gas values of EA group are similar to those of ketamine group with the exception of changes in the body temperature, pulse and arterial blood $pO_2$.