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Field anesthesia of juvenile Steller sea lions ( Eumetopias jubatus ) using inhalation anesthesia
Author(s) -
Lian Marianne,
Johnson Shawn,
Gelatt Thomas,
O'Hara Todd M.,
Beckmen Kimberlee B.,
Rea Lorrie D.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
marine mammal science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.723
H-Index - 78
eISSN - 1748-7692
pISSN - 0824-0469
DOI - 10.1111/mms.12445
Subject(s) - isoflurane , anesthesia , sevoflurane , sea lion , inhalation , medicine , juvenile , fishery , biology , ecology
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 .