title: The effects of diazepam or midazolam on the dose of propofol required to induce anaesthesia in cats.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Assess effects of benzodiazepine administration on the propofol dose required to induce anaesthesia in healthy cats, investigate differences between midazolam and diazepam, and determine an optimal benzodiazepine dose for co-induction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomised, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety client-owned cats (ASA I and II) with a median (interquartile range) body mass of 4.0 (3.4-4.9) kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  All cats received 0.01 mg kg(-1) acepromazine and 0.2 mg kg(-1) methadone intravenously (IV). Fifteen minutes later, sedation was scored on a scale of 1-5, with 5 indicating greatest sedation. Propofol, 2 mg kg(-1) , administered IV, was followed by either midazolam or diazepam at 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 or 0.5 mg kg(-1) or saline 0.1 mL kg(-1) . Further propofol was administered until endotracheal intubation was possible. Patient signalment, sedation score, propofol dosage and adverse reactions were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Midazolam and diazepam (all doses) significantly reduced the propofol dose required compared with saline (p < 0.001). There was no difference between midazolam and diazepam in propofol dose reduction (p = 0.488). All individual doses of midazolam reduced propofol requirement compared with saline (0.2 mg kg(-1) , p = 0.028; 0.3 mg kg(-1) , p = 0.006; 0.4 mg kg(-1) , p < 0.001; 0.5 mg kg(-1) , p = 0.009). Diazepam 0.2 mg kg(-1) did not reduce the propofol dose compared with saline (p = 0.087), but the remaining doses did (0.3 mg kg(-1) , p = 0.001; 0.4 mg kg(-1) , p = 0.032; 0.5 mg kg(-1) , p = 0.041). Cats with sedation scores of 3 required less propofol than cats with scores of 2 (p = 0.008). There was no difference between groups in adverse events.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Midazolam (0.2-0.5 mg kg(-1) ) and diazepam (0.3-0.5 mg kg(-1) ) administered IV after 2 mg kg(-1) propofol significantly reduced the propofol dose required for tracheal intubation.
authors: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK.
authors: Rebecca
authors: R
authors: Robinson
authors: Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, University of London, London, UK.
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Borer-Weir
mesh_terms: D000762:Anesthesia Recovery Period; D000771:Anesthesia, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D002415:Cats / Q000502:physiology*; D003975:Diazepam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004347:Drug Interactions; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D008874:Midazolam / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015742:Propofol / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D003975:Diazepam; D008874:Midazolam; D015742:Propofol
keywords: anaesthesia; cat; co-induction; diazepam; midazolam; propofol