Comparison of perioperative racemic methadone, levo-methadone and dextromoramide in cats using indicators of post-operative pain.
OBJECTIVE
To compare three opioid agonist drugs for perioperative analgesia in cats.


METHODS
Prospective, blind, controlled, randomised trial.


METHODS
Ninety client-owned cats, weighing 3.1 (2.1-4.5) kg, aged 14.6 (6.0-84.0) months, were studied.


METHODS
Seventy-six cats, scheduled for ovariectomy, received either 0.6 mg kg(-1) racemic methadone, 0.3 mg kg(-1) levo-methadone, 0.05 mg kg(-1) dextromoramide or a saline placebo IM. Behaviour and body position were assessed and scored 20 minutes later by a single 'blinded' observer. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with halothane. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), Fe'CO2 and SpO2 were recorded during anaesthesia. Post-operatively, pain was categorised as absent, moderate or severe, on the basis of appearance, behaviour and response to palpation of the surgical wound (pain score). Appearance, pain scores and physiological variables were monitored every 30 minutes, for a duration of 4 hours. Differences between time-dependent continuous variables were analysed using mixed models for repeated measurements. Differences in categorical, time-dependent variables were analysed using chi2-tests. Significance was set at p < or = 0.05.


RESULTS
There were no significant changes in appearance after pre-anaesthetic medication. After surgery, there was no association between appearance and pain score with HR or RR. The assessment of pain depended on comparison with the placebo group, by comparing animals' reactions to wound palpation. Sixteen of the 18 cats in the placebo group and 14 of the 19 cats in the dextromoramide group showed signs of moderate-to-severe pain after surgery. In the levo-methadone group (n = 20), one animal showed pain after 60 minutes and two after 120 minutes. One cat in the racemic methadone group (n = 19) showed pain signs and behavioural changes at 60 minutes. Compared to the two methadone groups, 'rescue' analgesia was required more often in cats treated with dextromoramide or saline.


CONCLUSIONS
Dextromoramide (0.05 mg kg(-1)) was ineffective, while racemic methadone (0.6 mg kg(-1)) and levo-methadone (0.3 mg kg(-1)) provided effective analgesia in cats following ovariectomy, without behavioural, respiratory or cardiovascular side effects.
Department of Veterinary Anaesthesia, University of Bern, Switzerland. crohrer@vetclinics.unizh.ch
Carla
C
Rohrer Bley
Gina
G
Neiger-Aeschbacher
Andre
A
Busato
Urs
U
Schatzmann
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D003916:Dextromoramide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D003916:Dextromoramide; D008691:Methadone