title: Investigating medetomidine-buprenorphine as preanaesthetic medication in cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to investigate medetomidine-buprenorphine preanaesthetic medication in cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) I female cats were enrolled in this prospective, blinded, clinical study. Cats were randomised into one of four groups: group M30 were injected intramuscularly with 30 microg/kg medetomidine, groups M10+B, M30+B and M50+B received 10, 30 and 50 microg/kg of medetomidine, respectively, each in combination with 20 microg/kg buprenorphine. After 30 minutes, a sedation score was allocated. Anaesthesia was induced using intravenous propofol and maintained using isoflurane in oxygen, while cats underwent ovariohysterectomy. Heart rate, respiratory rate, end-tidal carbon dioxide tension and oxygen saturation of haemoglobin were recorded. Atipamezole was administered intramuscularly at volatile agent discontinuation. Time taken to lift their head, sit in sternal and stand were recorded along with quality of recovery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  M30+B cats required significantly less isoflurane compared with M30 cats. Heart rate and oxygen saturation of haemoglobin were significantly lower in M50+B cats than in M30 cats. All M+B groups experienced significantly better recoveries compared with the medetomidine only M30 control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of buprenorphine to medetomidine preanaesthetic medication in cats reduces volatile agent vaporiser setting and improves the quality of recovery from anaesthesia.
authors.affiliation: Division of Veterinary Anaesthesia, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, Wirral CH64 7TE, UK.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Grint
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Burford
authors.forename: A H A
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Dugdale
mesh_terms: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000818:Animals; D002047:Buprenorphine; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007530:Isoflurane / Q000008:administration & dosage; D020926:Medetomidine; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000662:veterinary; D011229:Preanesthetic Medication / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage; D013997:Time Factors; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced
chemical_list: D018685:Anesthetics, Inhalation; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D002047:Buprenorphine; D007530:Isoflurane; D020926:Medetomidine; D015742:Propofol