title: Clinical evaluation of alfaxalone to induce and maintain anaesthesia in cats undergoing neutering procedures.
abstract: This study looked at the use and efficacy of alfaxalone for total intravenous anaesthesia (TIVA) in cats. Following intramuscular medetomidine (20 μg/kg) and morphine (0.3 mg/kg) premedication, anaesthesia was induced and maintained with intravenous alfaxalone. Patients were breathing 100% oxygen. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), end-tidal carbon dioxide, oxygen saturation of haemoglobin and indirect arterial blood pressure via Doppler (DAP) were recorded every 5 mins. Thirty-four cats (10 males and 24 females), between the age of 6 and 18 months, and weighing between 1.8 and 5.3 kg, and undergoing neutering procedures were included in this study. The results are presented as median (min, max) values. The time to first spontaneous movement (TS) was >30 mins in 19 cats, of which 12 received atipamezole for reversal of the effects of medetomidine. The TS was 53 (43, 130) mins in these 12 cats and 50 (40, 72) mins in the other seven cats. The body temperature in those 19 cats was significantly lower than the other cats (P = 0.05). The alfaxalone induction dose and maintenance infusion rate were1.7 (0.7, 3.0) mg/kg and 0.18 (0.06, 0.25) mg/kg/min, respectively. The HR, RR and DAP were 145 (68, 235) beats/min, 17 (5, 40) breaths/min and 110 (58, 210) mmHg, respectively. Apnoea was not observed in any cat. In conclusion, alfaxalone TIVA in combination with medetomidine and morphine premedication was effective in feral and domestic cats for the performance of neutering surgery; low body temperature might have resulted in longer recoveries in some cats.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, Melbourne University Veterinary Hospital, Werribee, VIC, Australia thierry.beths@unimelb.edu.au.
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beths
authors.affiliation: Surgery - Anaesthesia Unit, ONIRIS National Veterinary School, Nantes, France.
authors.forename: Gwenola
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Touzot-Jourde
authors.affiliation: College of Veterinary Medicine, Murdoch University, Murdoch, WA, Australia.
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musk
authors.affiliation: Research and Development, Jurox Pty Ltd, Rutherford, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Kirby
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pasloske
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis / Q000662:veterinary; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D008297:Male; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000662:veterinary; D011277:Pregnanediones / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012119:Respiration / Q000187:drug effects; D056152:Respiratory Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D011277:Pregnanediones; C006477:alphaxalone