Alfaxalone or ketamine-medetomidine in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy: a comparison of intra-operative parameters and post-operative pain

作者：Guerrero Karin S Kalchofner^*; Reichler Iris M; Schwarz Andrea; Jud Rahel S; Haessig Michael; Bettschart Wolfen**erger Regula

来源：Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia, 2014, 41(6): 644-653.

DOI：10.1111/vaa.12157

• alfaxalone
• cat
• ketamine
• medetomidine
• ovariohysterectomy
• post-operative analgesia

ObjectiveTo compare post-operative pain in cats after alfaxalone or ketamine- medetomidine anaesthesia for ovariohysterectomy (OHE) and physiologic parameters during and after surgery.
Study designProspective blinded' randomized clinical study.
AnimalsTwenty-one healthy cats.
MethodsCats were assigned randomly into two groups: Group A, anaesthesia was induced and maintained with alfaxalone [5mgkg(-1) intravenously (IV) followed by boli (2mgkg(-1) IV); Group MK, induction with ketamine (5mgkg(-1) IV) after medetomidine (30gkg(-1) intramuscularly (IM)], and maintenance with ketamine (2mgkg(-1) IV). Meloxicam (0.2mgkg(-1) IV) was administered after surgery. Basic physiological data were collected. At time T=-2, 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 20, and 24hours post-operatively pain was assessed by three methods, a composite pain scale (CPS; 0-24 points), a visual analogue scale (VAS 0-100mm), and a mechanical wound threshold (MWT) device. Butorphanol (0.2mgkg(-1) IM) was administered if CPS was scored 13. Data were analyzed using a general linear model, Kruskal-Wallis analyses, Bonferroni-Dunn test, unpaired t-test and Fisher's exact test as relevant. Significance was set at p<0.05.
ResultsVASs were significantly higher at 0.5, 1, 2, 4, and 20hours in group A; MWT values were significantly higher at 8 and 12hours in group MK. Post-operative MWT decreased significantly compared to baseline in both groups. There was no difference in CPS at any time point. Five cats required rescue analgesia (four in A; one in MK).
Conclusion and clinical relevanceAnaesthesia with ketamine-medetomidine was found to provide better post-surgical analgesia than alfaxalone in cats undergoing OHE; however, primary hyperalgesia developed in both groups. Alfaxalone is suitable for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia in cats undergoing OHE, but administration of additional sedative and analgesic drugs is highly recommended.

• 出版日期2014-11