The aim of the study was to compare anaesthesia protocol utilizing combination ketamine/ medetomidine with epidural lidocaine or morphine to orthopaedic surgery in rabbits. All rabbits received intramuscularly medetomidine (0.5 mg/kg) and ketamine (20 mg/kg). In group L (n=13) epidural injection was performed with lidocaine (3 mg/kg) and in group M (n=13) with morphine (0.1 mg/kg) diluted with sterile saline to 0.6 ml. Rabbits underwent bilateral mosaicplasty surgery. Heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP), diastolic (DBP) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), arte- rial oxygen saturation (SpO2) and respiratory rate (RR) were measured every 5 minute during surgical procedure. Duration of sensory blockade was measured based on toe pinch reflex and recorded.

Hemodynamic parameters were comparable at baseline in both groups. We did not observe significant differences in HR, RR, SBP, DBP, MAP between group L and M. Intragroup statistical analysis revealed differences at different time points in group M in terms of HR, SBP, DBP, MAP. In rabbits in group M blood pressure dropped while HR increased over time. In both groups a decrease in SpO2 was observed. Mean duration of loss of the toe pinch reflex was similar between group L and M, and amounted to 72.79±34.48 and 82.80±17.85 minutes, respectively.

Sophie de Grouchy in her Letters on sympathy analyses the notion of sympathy, as a starting point using a critique of Adam Smith’s Theory of Moral Sentiments. She also points out that sympathising with other people’s joys brings us pleasure, other people’s good experiences make us happy (especially if we are the ones who contribute to their well-being) and we want to see other people happy and not suffering. As she assumes, we naturally seek other people’s well-being and not their harm. De Grouchy underlines the role of imagination and reason, discerning coincidental good deeds and those that are an effect of intended actions. The paper aims to reconstruct a way in which de Grouchy seeks the grounds for morality in sympathy that is based on feeling and observation of physical pain and pleasure. This presentation of her theory that Polish readers are not closely accustomed with is a good starting point to inquire whether the argumentation presented by the author of the Letters on sympathy is coherent within her theory and whether it has proper justification.

Introduction: Effective and safe anesthesia for rodents has long been a leading concern among biomedical researchers. Intraperitoneal injection constitutes an alternative to inhalant anesthesia.

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify a safe, reliable, and effective anesthesia and postoperative analgesia protocol for laboratory rats exposed to painful procedures.

Material and methods: Twenty-seven female Wistar rats in an ongoing study that required surgery were randomized into groups for three different intraperitoneal anesthesia protocols and three different analgesia regimens. The anesthesia groups were (1) medetomidine + ketamine (MK), (2) ketamine + xylacine (KX), and (3) fentanyl + medetomidine (FM). Three analgesia groups were equally distributed among the anesthesia groups: (1) local mepivacaine + oral ibuprofen (MI), (2) oral tramadol + oral ibuprofen (TI), and (3) local tramadol + oral tramadol + oral ibuprofen (TTI). A core was assigned to measure anesthesia (0-3) and analgesia (0-2) effectiveness; the lower the score, the more effective the treatment.

Results: The mean MK score was 0.44 versus 2.00 for FM and 2.33 for KX. Mean score for analgesia on the first postoperative day was TTI (4.66) TI (9.13), and MI (10.14). Mean score 48 hours after surgery was TTI (3.4), TI (6.71), and MI (9.5). These differences were statistically significant.

Conclusion: MK was shown to be a reliable, safe, and effective method of anesthesia. The TTI analgesia regimen is strongly recommended in light of these results.