title: Evaluation of the perioperative analgesic efficacy of buprenorphine, compared with butorphanol, in cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the analgesic effects of buprenorphine and butorphanol in domestic cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  2-phase positive-controlled randomized masked clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  39 healthy female cats (10 in phase 1 and 29 in phase 2).
  
  
  METHODS
  Cats admitted for ovariohysterectomy received buprenorphine (4 in phase 1; 14 in phase 2) or butorphanol (6 in phase 1; 15 in phase 2). In phase 1, cats were premedicated with buprenorphine (0.02 mg/kg [0.009 mg/lb], IM) or butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg [0.18 mg/lb], IM), in combination with medetomidine. Anesthesia was induced with propofol (IV) and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. After extubation, medetomidine was antagonized with atipamezole. A validated multidimensional composite scale was used to assess signs of pain after surgery starting 20 minutes after extubation and continuing for up to 360 minutes, and pain score comparisons were made between the 2 groups. Phase 2 proceeded similar to phase 1 with the following addition: during wound closure, cats from the butorphanol and buprenorphine groups received butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg, IM) or buprenorphine (0.02 mg/kg, IM), respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Phase 1 of the study was stopped after 10 cats were ovariohysterectomized because 9 of 10 cats required rescue analgesia at the first evaluation. In phase 2, at the first pain evaluation, pain scores from the buprenorphine group were lower, and all cats from the butorphanol group required rescue analgesia. None of the cats from the buprenorphine group required rescue analgesia at any time.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Buprenorphine (0.02 mg/kg, IM) given before surgery and during wound closure provided adequate analgesia for 6 hours following ovariohysterectomy in cats, whereas butorphanol did not.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Melbourne, Werribee, VIC 3030, Australia.
authors.forename: Leon N
authors.initials: LN
authors.lastname: Warne
authors.forename: Thierry
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Beths
authors.forename: Merete
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Holm
authors.forename: Jennifer E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: Sébastien H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Bauquier
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000818:Animals; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002077:Butorphanol / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy; D002415:Cats; D005260:Female; D007044:Hysterectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D059035:Perioperative Period / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D002047:Buprenorphine; D002077:Butorphanol