Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
High-dose buprenorphine causes more fever than morphine after cat
By Martin-Flores, Manuel et al.·Published in American journal of veterinary research·2022·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: High-dose buprenorphine results in a greater occurrence of postoperative hyperthermia than morphine in a randomized clinical trial in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 94 cats undergoing spay surgery were given either high-dose buprenorphine or morphine for pain relief during recovery. The cats that received buprenorphine had higher body temperatures after surgery compared to those that received morphine, with more than half of the buprenorphine group experiencing hyperthermia (high body temperature) at various times post-surgery. However, both groups had similar pain levels and needed additional pain relief at the same rates. This suggests that while buprenorphine may not provide better pain control, it can lead to increased body temperature after surgery.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the thermoregulatory and analgesic effects of high-dose buprenorphine versus morphine in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. ANIMALS: 94 client-owned cats. PROCEDURES: Cats were randomized to receive either buprenorphine 0.24 mg/kg or morphine 0.1 mg/kg subcutaneously (SC) during recovery from ovariohysterectomy. Body temperature measurements were obtained before anesthesia, during anesthesia (averaged), at extubation, and 2, 4, and 16 to 20 hours postoperatively. Signs of pain were assessed, and demographic characteristics were compared between groups. The effects of treatment and time on body temperature, point prevalence of hyperthermia (> 39.2 °C), and pain scores were compared with linear or generalized mixed-effect models. RESULTS: Cats receiving morphine (vs. buprenorphine) were older and heavier (both, P ≤ 0.005). Other group characteristics did not differ between treatments. Cats receiving buprenorphine (vs. morphine) had higher postoperative temperatures (P = 0.03). At 2, 4, and 16 to 20 hours after extubation, the point prevalence of hyperthermia was greater (P = 0.001) for cats receiving buprenorphine (55% [26/47], 44% [21/47], and 62% [27/43], respectively) versus morphine (28% [13/46], 13% [6/46], and 47% [21/44], respectively). There were no differences in pain scores between groups or over time. Five cats receiving buprenorphine and 6 receiving morphine required rescue analgesia within the 24-hour period. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Administration of buprenorphine (0.24 mg/kg SC), compared with morphine (0.1 mg/kg SC), resulted in higher body temperatures without an apparent advantage with regard to analgesia during the first 20 postoperative hours than morphine. Opioid-induced postoperative hyperthermia could confound the diagnosis of fever from different sources.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35524962/