Pre-emptive meloxicam for postoperative analgesia in piglets undergoing surgical castration.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the effect of preoperative meloxicam administration on postoperative stress and pain induced by surgical castration in piglets.


METHODS
Prospective, blinded, randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
One hundred and eighty male piglets of <1 week of age.


METHODS
Castration was performed on 150 piglets which had received either an intramuscular injection of 0.4 mg kg(-1) meloxicam or a placebo 10-30 minutes before the procedure. Blood cortisol and ACTH concentrations were determined at 30 minutes post-castration and haptoglobin was measured at 24 hours post-castration. Presence or absence of foreleg movements, hind leg movements, urine or faeces emission, tremors or other body movements were recorded during the castration procedure. Scores for presence or absence of prostration, tremors, tail movements and isolation were recorded at 30 minutes, and at 1, 2, 4 and 24 hours post-castration and combined in a global behaviour score (GBS). Blood samples were taken from a further 30 piglets which did not undergo castration.


RESULTS
Mean blood cortisol and ACTH concentrations at 30 minutes post-castration were both significantly lower in the meloxicam group than in the placebo group (p < or = 0.01). The mean haptoglobin concentration at 24 hours was not significantly reduced (p = 0.178). The distribution of the GBS during castration was similar in both groups. There were significant differences in the GBS after castration at both 2 and 4 hours post-castration with a greater proportion of piglets in the meloxicam group showing no behavioural alterations (82.7%versus 68.0% at both time points). The score distribution was similar in both groups at 30 minutes, 1 and 24 hours after castration.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests that pre-emptive administration of meloxicam is able to produce some postoperative analgesia after surgical castration of young piglets.
Keita
Alassane
A
CTPA, Ploufragan, France. alassane.keita@zoopole.asso.fr
Pagot
Eric
E
Prunier
Armelle
A
Guidarini
Christian
C
D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone / Q000097:blood; D000698:Analgesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006242:Haptoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D000077239:Meloxicam; D009919:Orchiectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D013843:Thiazines / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013844:Thiazoles / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D013997:Time Factors
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal; D006242:Haptoglobins; D013843:Thiazines; D013844:Thiazoles; D000324:Adrenocorticotropic Hormone; D000077239:Meloxicam; D006854:Hydrocortisone