title: Clinical evaluation of alfaxalone as an anaesthetic induction agent in cats less than 12 weeks of age.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the clinical suitability of alfaxalone as an anaesthetic induction and maintenance agent for kittens aged less than 12 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study group comprised 34 kittens aged less than 12 weeks that were presented for surgical desexing. They were aged by dentition, examined and weighed prior to premedication with acepromazine, atropine and morphine. At 20-30 min after premedication, animals were anaesthetised with intravenous alfaxalone administered to effect, using a target maximum expected dose of 5 mg/kg. All cats were intubated: 25 were maintained with isoflurane in oxygen administered with a non-rebreathing circuit and 8 were maintained by supplemental intravenous administration of alfaxalone. Subjective measures of anaesthetic quality and vital signs were recorded from enrolment to recovery. Cats receiving supplemental alfaxalone for maintenance were evaluated for time to first supplemental dose and the total dose of supplemental alfaxalone (mg/kg/h). Descriptive and comparative statistics were used to analyse and present collected data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean (± SD) dose of alfaxalone for induction was 4.7 ± 0.5 mg/kg body weight. Subjective measures of anaesthetic quality indicated acceptable induction, maintenance and recovery standards. Measured cardiovascular and respiratory parameters were well maintained.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Alfaxalone in 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (Alfaxan®) is a suitable injectable anaesthetic induction agent for juvenile cats aged less than 12 weeks requiring anaesthesia. Maintenance of anaesthesia with supplemental doses of alfaxalone may be a suitable alternative in kittens when the use of inhalant anaesthetic maintenance is not feasible.
authors.affiliation: Jurox Pty Ltd, 85 Gardiner Road, Rutherford, New South Wales 2320, Australia. brad.ohagan@jurox.com.au
authors.forename: B J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: O'Hagan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pasloske
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: McKinnon
authors.forename: N R
authors.initials: NR
authors.lastname: Perkins
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Whittem
mesh_terms: D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D000831:Animals, Newborn / Q000502:physiology; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D002369:Castration / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011277:Pregnanediones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D011277:Pregnanediones; C006477:alphaxalone