A safe and practical inhalation anaesthesia for Weddell seals

Nine adult female Weddell seals were anaesthetized during the breeding season using the inhalation anaesthetic sevoflurane. The seals were captured with a head bag. Sevoflurane was administered and vaporized into the bag. A dose of 5 ml sevoflurane induced narcosis 1 min after application. Anaesthesia was maintained by multiple follow-up doses of 2 ml at an interval of 2 min. The average duration for complete recovery was 11Dž min after the terminal application. Sevoflurane is a reliable volatile anaesthetic that requires a minimum of equipment even under the low temperature regime of Antarctica.