title: Neuraxial morphine induced pruritus in two cats and treatment with sub anaesthetic doses of propofol.
abstract: METHODS
  Two cats were presented for orthopaedic surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  With the exception of the orthopaedic injuries found, clinical examination showed no abnormality.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As part of anaesthetic management, one cat received intrathecal morphine, the other epidural morphine. Following recovery, intense grooming was observed. After ensuring adequate analgesia this behaviour was interpreted as pruritus. In the first cat, pruritus was initially managed with medetomidine constant rate infusion (CRI) at 1 and 1.5 μg kg(-1)  hour(-1) . The lower dose produced sedation and no relief from pruritus, the higher dose ablated pruritus but induced sedation. Two propofol (lipid emulsion formulation) boli of 0.1 mg kg(-1) ablated pruritus without causing sedation. The second cat was successfully treated with four boli of 0.1 mg kg(-1) propofol over 20 minutes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following treatment with propofol, pruritus did not recur in either cat and both were discharged from the hospital.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This is the first clinical report of morphine-induced pruritus in cats and management with low-dose propofol. These cases suggest an antipruritic mechanism for lipid-formulation propofol.
authors.affiliation: Section of Anesthesiology, Equine Department, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstrasse 260, Zurich, Switzerland. tgent@vetclinics.uzh.ch
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gent
authors.forename: Isabelle
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Iff
authors.forename: Regula
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bettschart-Wolfensberger
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mosing
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000818:Animals; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000188:drug therapy; D002415:Cats; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D009020:Morphine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011537:Pruritus / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D009020:Morphine; D015742:Propofol
keywords: cat; morphine; neuraxial anaesthesia; propofol; pruritus