Evaluation of the influence of atipamezole on the postoperative analgesic effect of buprenorphine in cats undergoing a surgical ovariohysterectomy

ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of atipamezole on postoperative pain scores in cats. Study designControlled, randomized, masked clinical trial. AnimalsTwelve healthy female domestic cats. MethodsCats admitted for ovariohysterectomy (OVH) surgery were randomly allocated to group atipamezole (n=6) or group saline (n=6) and were premedicated with buprenorphine 20gkg(-1) intramuscularly (IM) and alfaxalone 3.0mgkg(-1) subcutaneously (SC). Anaesthesia was induced with alfaxalone intravenously (IV) to effect and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Ten minutes after extubation, cats from group atipamezole received IM atipamezole (0.0375mgkg(-1)) whereas group saline received an equivalent volume [0.0075mL kg(-1) (0.003mLkg(-1) IM)] of 0.9% saline. A validated multidimensional composite scale was used to assess pain prior to premedication and postoperatively (20minutes after extubation). If postoperative pain scores dictated, rescue analgesia consisting of buprenorphine and meloxicam were administered. Pain score comparisons were made between the two groups using a Mann-Whitney exact test. Results are reported as the median and range. ResultsPreoperatively, all cats scored 0. At the postoperative pain evaluation, the pain scores from group atipamezole [16 (range, 12-20)] were not significantly different from group saline [18 (range, 15-23)] (p=0.28). All cats required rescue analgesia post-operatively. Conclusions and clinical relevanceAtipamezole (0.0375mgkg(-1) IM) administration did not significantly affect the postoperative pain scores in cats after OVH. Preoperative administration of buprenorphine (20gkg(-1) IM) did not provide adequate postoperative analgesia for feline OVH.