title: Preliminary investigation comparing a detomidine continuous rate infusion combined with either morphine or buprenorphine for standing sedation in horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare sedative and analgesic properties of buprenorphine or morphine for standing procedures combined with a detomidine continuous rate infusion (CRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  Blinded, prospective, randomized clinical pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten horses presented for dental or sinus procedures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Horses received 0.02 mg kg(-1) acepromazine intravenously (IV), followed 30 minutes later by detomidine 10 μg kg(-1) IV. Five minutes later, buprenorphine 0.01 mg kg(-1) (n = 6) or morphine 0.1 mg kg(-1) (n = 4) was administered IV. Detomidine was administered by CRI (0.2 μg kg(-1) minute(-1)) and adjusted to maintain appropriate sedation. Heart rate, respiratory frequency, gastrointestinal motility and rectal temperature were measured; pain, ataxia and sedation were scored. Sedation, pain scores and ataxia scores were analysed using a mixed linear model. Detomidine dose and procedure success scores were compared using Wilcoxon's rank sum test. Complications between groups were analysed using Fisher's exact test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Two horses had incomplete data. Weights and ages were not different between groups (p = 0.15 and p = 0.42, respectively). The dose rate for detomidine was not different between groups (0.33 ± 0.02 μg kg(-1) minute(-1) in the buprenorphine group and 0.33 ± 0.05 μg kg(-1) minute(-1), in the morphine group p = 0.89). Intraoperative visual analogue scale scores were greater after buprenorphine than morphine (mean ± SD, buprenorphine 48 ± 4, morphine 40 ± 5, p = 0.0497). Procedure duration was not different between groups (buprenorphine 142 ± 33, morphine 140 ± 12 minutes). All horses treated with buprenorphine experienced complications compared with none in the morphine group (p = 0.0286).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  At the doses used, buprenorphine produced greater sedation but more post-operative complications than morphine. However, Type I or Type II errors cannot be excluded and larger studies are required to confirm these findings.
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Anaesthesia, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
authors.forename: Joanna J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Potter
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Anaesthesia, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
authors.forename: Paul D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: MacFarlane
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Anaesthesia, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
authors.forename: Emma J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Love
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Equine Medicine and Surgery, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Tremaine
authors.affiliation: Taylor Monroe, Little Downham, UK.
authors.forename: Polly M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.affiliation: School of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Anaesthesia, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
authors.forename: Joanna C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Murrell
mesh_terms: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D002047:Buprenorphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D018397:Equidae; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000494:pharmacology; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011446:Prospective Studies
chemical_list: D058647:Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D007093:Imidazoles; D002047:Buprenorphine; D009020:Morphine; C041255:detomidine
keywords: buprenorphine; horse; morphine; pain; sedation