{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,9]],"date-time":"2026-03-09T11:36:22Z","timestamp":1773056182749,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":33,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"3","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,8]],"date-time":"2024-03-08T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1709856000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"FFABR 2023 (A.S.), University of Messina"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Veterinary Sciences"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The aim of this study was to determine the most appropriate sedation protocol for a standing magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination in horses, comparing continuous rate infusions (CRIs) of detomidine and romifidine combined with a single bolus of morphine. Sixteen horses referred for standing low-field open-magnet MRI were randomly assigned to one of two sedation protocols. The horses were premedicated with 0.03 mg\/kg of intramuscular acepromazine, and those animals belonging to Group D received an intravenous (IV) loading dose of detomidine (0.01 mg\/kg) 30 min later, while those of Group R received romifidine (0.04 mg\/kg). If the horses were inadequately sedated, an additional dose of IV detomidine (0.005 mg\/kg) or romifidine (0.02 mg\/kg) was administered, according to the animal\u2019s group. During the MRI, a single IV bolus of morphine (0.05 mg\/kg) was administered, and according to which group it belonged to, the animal started the administration of detomidine (0.01 mg\/kg\/h) or romifidine (0.02 mg\/kg\/h). Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), rectal temperature (RT), depth of sedation, and degree of ataxia were evaluated every 10 min during MRI. Two horses belonging to Group D and four horses from Group R needed additional sedation before entering the MRI unit because they were unsatisfactorily sedated. No side effects were observed following morphine bolus administration. During the MRI procedure, five horses in Group R received an additional IV romifidine bolus (0.01 mg\/kg) because the depth of sedation score was 1 and the ataxia score was 0. Any substantial differences were recorded between the two treatments in terms of HR, RR, and RT. In conclusion, at the doses used, a detomidine\u2013morphine combination following a CRI of detomidine appears more suitable than a romifidine\u2013morphine combination following a CRI of romifidine for maintaining an adequate depth of sedation and adequate immobility in horses undergoing standing MRI.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/vetsci11030124","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,8]],"date-time":"2024-03-08T03:52:11Z","timestamp":1709869931000},"page":"124","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["Comparison of Detomidine or Romifidine in Combination with Morphine for Standing Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Horses"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"11","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-1643-4677","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Cecilia","family":"Vullo","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale Ferdinando Stagno D\u2019Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-6840-3154","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Enrico","family":"Gugliandolo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo SS. Annunziata, 98169 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8717-1966","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Vito","family":"Biondi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo SS. Annunziata, 98169 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Marco","family":"Biffarella","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Independent Researcher, Via Anna Salamone, 7, 98073 Mistretta, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Giuseppe","family":"Catone","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Messina, Polo SS. Annunziata, 98169 Messina, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-6590-1876","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Adolfo Maria","family":"Tambella","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"School of Biosciences and Veterinary Medicine, University of Camerino, 62024 Matelica, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,3,8]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"803","DOI":"10.2478\/pjvs-2013-0115","article-title":"Magnetic resonance protocols in equine lameness examination, used sequences, and interpretation","volume":"16","author":"Adamiak","year":"2013","journal-title":"Pol. J. Vet. Sci."},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"Morgan, J.M., Aceto, H., Manzi, T., and Davidson, E.J. (2023). 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