A prospective multi-centre clinical trial to compare buprenorphine and butorphanol for postoperative analgesia in cats.
One hundred and fifty-three cats undergoing surgery in seven veterinary practices in Great Britain were studied. They were randomly allocated to receive either 10-20 microg/kg buprenorphine or 0.4 mg/kg butorphanol with acepromazine before anaesthesia with propofol, Saffan or thiopentone and isoflurane or halothane. Routine monitoring was undertaken. Pain and sedation were assessed blind using a four point (0-3) simple descriptive scale (SDS) at 1, 2, 4, 8 and 24h. Pain and sedation data were compared using non-parametric statistical tests and continuous data using t tests or analysis of variance (ANOVA). Anaesthesia and surgery were uneventful, and cardiorespiratory data were within normal limits. After surgery, overall, more cats had pain score 0 after buprenorphine and more had pain score 3 after butorphanol (P=0.0465). At individual time points, more cats had lower pain scores after buprenorphine at 2 (P=0.040) and 24 (P=0.036)h. At 24h 83% after buprenorphine and 63% after butorphanol had pain score 0 (P<0.04). Buprenorphine provided better and longer lasting postoperative analgesia than butorphanol.
Taylor
Polly M
PM
Taylor Monroe, Gravel Head Farm, Downham Common, Little Downham, Nr Ely, Cambs CB6 2TY, UK. polly@taylormonroe.co.uk
Kirby
Jonathan J
JJ
Robinson
Clare
C
Watkins
Elizabeth A
EA
Clarke
David D
DD
Ford
Marion A
MA
Church
Karen E
KE
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000818:Animals; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology* / Q000601:surgery; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000662:veterinary*; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine; D002077:Butorphanol