Comparison of invasive and non-invasive blood pressure monitoring in Cuniculus paca (Spotted paca)

Cuniculus paca, a South American wild rodent with zootechnical potential, requires anesthesia for management procedures. However, limited information is available regarding safe monitoring of this animal under anesthesia. This study aimed to compare with gold standard invasive method and validate non-invasive blood pressure measurements using an oscillometric monitor in Cuniculus paca. Eight healthy adult females undergoing general anesthesia for follicular aspiration were included. Systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial pressures were measured simultaneous using, oscillometric non-invasive monitor with its cuff placed on the radial artery and an invasive catheter placed in the dorsal metatarsal artery. Measurements were compared using the t-test, correlated by Pearson test, and analyzed using the Bland-Altman concordance test. The results indicated that only systolic pressure measured by non-invasive oscillometric methos was similar to the pressure measurement by invasive method (P=0.6372, r=0.5969, bias 0.59±20.9 mmHg); while mean and diastolic pressures were underestimated by the non-invasive method. In conclusion, non-invasive oscillometric monitor provides a valid and reliable method for systolic blood pressure measurement in Cuniculus paca under general anesthesia.