Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Post-anesthetic fever in cats after hydromorphone or ketamine use
By Posner, Lysa P et al.·Published in Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia·2007·Department of Clinical Sciences, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Post-anesthetic hyperthermia in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 40 healthy adult cats undergoing routine surgeries like spaying or neutering were monitored for high body temperatures after anesthesia. It was found that cats given hydromorphone, a pain medication, were more likely to experience elevated temperatures compared to those given other medications. In fact, some cats had temperatures exceeding 107°F shortly after surgery. While this hyperthermia (high body temperature) can occur with various anesthetic drugs, those receiving hydromorphone showed the highest rates. It's important for pet owners to know that if their cat has received hydromorphone, they should be vigilant for signs of overheating after surgery.
People also search for: cat surgery recovery · cat high temperature after anesthesia · hydromorphone side effects in cats
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To assess whether administration of hydromorphone and, or ketamine are associated with post-anesthetic hyperthermia in cats undergoing routine surgery. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective clinical study. ANIMALS: Forty healthy, adult cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy (OVH), castration, or declaw surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Each cat was assigned randomly to one of four groups (n = 10). For pre-anesthetic medication, all cats received subcutaneous (SC) glycopyrrolate (0.01 mg kg(-1)) and acepromazine (0.02 mg kg(-1)) and either hydromorphone (0.1 mg kg(-1) SC) or medetomidine (7.5 microg kg(-1) SC). Anesthesia was induced with either diazepam (0.1 mg kg(-1)) and ketamine (5 mg kg(-1)) or propofol (6 mg kg(-1) injected to effect). Group 1 (HDK) received hydromorphone and diazepam-ketamine. Group 2 (HP) received hydromorphone and propofol. Group 3 (MDK) received medetomidine and diazepam-ketamine. Group 4 (MP) received medetomidine and propofol. Rectal temperature was measured before drugs were given, at tracheal extubation and at hourly intervals for 5 hours thereafter. RESULTS: During the 5 hours after anesthesia and surgery, at least one cat in every group had a rectal temperature >39.2 degrees C (102.5 degrees F). The percentage of observations for which a cat's temperature exceeded its pre-anesthetic temperature in groups HDK, HP, MDK, and MP were 86%, 80%, 25%, and 34%, respectively. Maximum temperatures in groups HDK, HP, MDK, and MP were 41.6 degrees C (107.0 degrees F), 40.3 degrees C (104.2 degrees F), 39.2 degrees C (102.6 degrees F), and 40.1 degrees C (104.1 degrees F), respectively. By 5 hours after tracheal extubation there were no differences in temperature between the treatment groups. CONCLUSION: For up to 5 hours following anesthesia and surgery, cats might have body temperatures that exceed their pre-anesthesia body temperatures. The use of hydromorphone is associated with post-anesthetic hyperthermia. However, hyperthermia may occur when other drugs are used. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Cats given hydromorphone should be closely monitored for hyperthermia following anesthesia and surgery.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17238961/