Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
NSAIDs lower breathing and heart rate after spay surgery in cats
By Höglund, Odd V et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2018·1 Department of Clinical Sciences·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effect of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs on postoperative respiratory and heart rate in cats subjected to ovariohysterectomy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 168 female cats undergoing spay surgery (ovariohysterectomy) were studied to see if giving them a pain relief medication (NSAID) before surgery would help reduce pain after the procedure. The cats were divided into two groups: one received an NSAID, while the other did not. After surgery, their heart and breathing rates were measured to assess pain levels. The results showed no significant difference in heart or breathing rates between the two groups, suggesting that these measures may not be reliable indicators of pain in cats after surgery.
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Abstract
Objectives The use of physiological parameters such as respiratory rate and heart rate to assess pain has long been discussed. The aim of the study was to compare postoperative respiratory rate and heart rate in cats subjected to flank ovariohysterectomy treated with a preoperative non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) or no NSAID, and determine whether these parameters are suitable for postoperative pain assessment in cats. We hypothesised that cats without an NSAID would experience more postoperative pain, which may increase heart rate and respiratory rate. Methods A total of 168 female privately owned cats were studied. All cats were premedicated with medetomidine (0.08 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.4 mg/kg) subcutaneously and anaesthesia was induced with intramuscular ketamine (5 mg/kg). Cats were divided into subgroups; controls (no NSAID) or cats given an NSAID, carprofen (4 mg/kg) or meloxicam (0.3 mg/kg), at premedication or induction of anaesthesia. Cats were subjected to flank ovariohysterectomy by the same surgeon. Atipamezole was administered 2.5 h after induction of anaesthesia. Respiratory rate and heart rate were measured 3.5 h after the induction of anaesthesia. Data were analysed using one-way ANOVA with mixed procedure and Tukey's adjustment method for multiplicity. Results The postoperative respiratory rate and heart rate per minute for all cats were 34.0 ± 8.6 and 167.5 ± 27.4, respectively. Neither respiratory rate nor heart rate differed significantly between the control group and the NSAID groups or between different time points of administration of NSAIDs. Conclusion and relevance Assuming there was less postoperative pain in the group administered NSAIDs, the results of the study presented no support for use of respiratory rate and heart rate as parameters for postoperative pain assessment in individual cats. Study limitations included a lack of pain scoring and baseline data for respiratory rate and heart rate.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29165006/