Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ketamine infusion after mastectomy helps pain and eating in bitches
By Sarrau, S et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2007·National Veterinary School of Toulouse, France·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Effects of postoperative ketamine infusion on pain control and feeding behaviour in bitches undergoing mastectomy.
Plain-English summary
A group of female dogs that underwent mastectomy surgery were given different doses of ketamine to see if it would help with pain control and encourage them to eat afterward. The dogs receiving the highest dose of ketamine showed a significant improvement in their food intake 20 hours after surgery compared to those who received a lower dose or a placebo. However, there was no difference in the amount of opioids needed for pain relief among the groups. Overall, the high-dose ketamine helped the dogs feel better and eat more after their surgery.
People also search for: dog mastectomy recovery · postoperative pain management in dogs · ketamine for dog surgery pain
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine if ketamine administered to bitches at the end of a mastectomy, followed by a six-hour constant rate infusion (CRI), improved postoperative opioid analgesia and feeding behaviour. METHODS: The bitches were randomised into three groups: the placebo group received 0.09 ml/kg isotonic saline intravenously followed by a six-hour CRI of 0.5 ml/kg/hour, the low-dose ketamine received 150 microg/kg ketamine intravenously followed by a six-hour CRI of 2 microg/kg/minute and the high-dose ketamine group received 700 microg/kg ketamine intravenously followed by a six-hour CRI of 10 microg/kg/minute. Any additional opioids given were recorded at the time of extubation and at intervals after extubation. Food intake was evaluated eight (T8) and 20 (T20) hours after extubation by measuring the per cent coverage of basal energy requirements (BER). RESULTS: No significant difference was observed for opioid requirements between the three groups. The mean percentages of BER coverage did not differ significantly at T8 but the difference between the high-dose and low-dose ketamine groups (P=0.014), and the high-dose ketamine and placebo groups (P=0.038) was significant at T20. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrated that 700 microg/kg ketamine given intravenously postoperatively followed by a six-hour ketamine CRI of 10 microg/kg/minute improved patient feeding behaviour.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17725589/