Comparison of the effects of propofol or alfaxalone for anaesthesia induction and maintenance on respiration in cats. (13th October 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Campagna, Ivo; Schwarz, Andrea; Keller, Stefanie; Bettschart‐Wolfensberger, Regula; Mosing, Martina
• Is Part Of: Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia. Volume 42:Number 5(2015:Sep.)
• Page Start: 484
• Page End: 492
• Publication Date: 2014-10-13
• Subjects: Veterinary anesthesia -- Periodicals; 636.089
• DOI: 10.1111/vaa.12231
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1467-2987

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="vaa12231-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="vaa12231-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>To compare the effects of propofol and alfaxalone on respiration in cats.</p> </sec> <sec id="vaa12231-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Study design</title> <p>Randomized, 'blinded', prospective clinical trial.</p> </sec> <sec id="vaa12231-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Animals</title> <p>Twenty cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.</p> </sec> <sec id="vaa12231-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>After premedication with medetomidine 0.01 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> intramuscularly and meloxicam 0.3 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> subcutaneously, the cats were assigned randomly into two groups: group A (<italic>n </italic>=<italic> </italic>10) were administered alfaxalone 5 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> minute<sup>−1</sup> followed by 10 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> hour<sup>−1</sup> intravenously (IV) and group P (<italic>n </italic>=<italic> </italic>10) were administered propofol 6 mg kg<sup>−1 </sup>minute<sup>−1</sup> followed by 12 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>hour<sup>−1</sup> IV for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia, respectively. After endotracheal intubation, the tube was connected to a non‐rebreathing system delivering 100% oxygen. The anaesthetic maintenance drug rate was adjusted (± 0.5 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> hour<sup>−1</sup>) every 5 minutes according to a scoring sheet based on physiologic variables and clinical signs. If apnoea > 30 seconds, end‐tidal carbon dioxide (P<sc>e</sc>′CO<sub>2</sub>) > 7.3 kPa (55 mmHg) or arterial haemoglobin oxygen saturation (SpO<sub>2</sub>) < 90% occurred, manual ventilation was provided. Methadone was administered postoperatively. Data were analyzed using independent‐samples <italic>t</italic>‐tests, Fisher's exact test, linear mixed‐effects models and binomial test.</p> </sec> <sec id="vaa12231-sec-0005" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Manual ventilation was required in two and eight of the cats in group A and P, respectively (<italic>p </italic>=<italic> </italic>0.02). Two cats in both groups showed apnoea. P<sc>e</sc>′CO<sub>2</sub> > 7.3 kPa was recorded in zero <italic>versus</italic> four and SpO<sub>2</sub> < 90% in zero <italic>versus</italic> six cats in groups A and P respectively. Induction and maintenance dose rates (mean ± SD) were 11.6 ± 0.3 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> and 10.7 ± 0.8 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> hour<sup>−1</sup> for alfaxalone and 11.7 ± 2.7 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> and 12.4 ± 0.5 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> hour<sup>−1</sup> for propofol.</p> </sec> <sec id="vaa12231-sec-0006" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusion and clinical relevance</title> <p>Alfaxalone had less adverse influence on respiration than propofol in cats premedicated with medetomidine. Alfaxalone might be better than propofol for induction and maintenance of anaesthesia when artificial ventilation cannot be provided.</p> </sec> </abstract>