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Home / Equine Research Bank / Res Vet Sci / A comparison of two morphine doses on the quality of recover...
Research in veterinary science2013; 95(3); 1195-1200; doi: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.07.001

A comparison of two morphine doses on the quality of recovery from general anaesthesia in horses.

Abstract: Previous studies indicated that perioperative morphine improves recovery quality after general anaesthesia in horses. This clinical trial investigated whether this effect was dose-dependant. Twenty-six horses anaesthetised for surgery were block-randomised to receive one of two intraoperative morphine treatments: Treatment M1 consisted of a constant rate infusion (CRI) of morphine at 0.1mg/kg/h, begun after a loading dose (LD) of 0.15 mg/kg. Treatment M2 was a CRI of 0.2mg/kg/h preceded by an LD of 0.3mg/kg. During recovery, times at the first attempt and at achieving sternal recumbency and standing, and the total recovery duration were not different between groups. Total recovery quality score was not significantly different between groups. Scores for the "sternal phase" were higher (of poorer quality) for M2 but scores in both groups were low. Morphine doses of M2, which are greater than those described previously, do not appear to alter or improve the quality or duration of recovery in horses after surgical anaesthesia.
Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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Publication Date: 2013-08-09 PubMed ID: 23937991DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.07.001Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Comparative Study
  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study compared the effect of two different doses of morphine on horses recovering from general anesthesia and found that the higher dose didn’t seem to improve recovery times or quality.

Research Methodology

  • The study was based on clinical trials involving 26 horses that underwent surgery and general anesthesia.
  • The horses were block-randomised, meaning they were divided into two groups and administered one of two morphine treatments during surgery.
  • The first treatment, called M1, used a constant rate infusion (CRI) of morphine at 0.1mg/kg/h after an initial loading dose (LD) of 0.15 mg/kg.
  • The second treatment, M2, had a CRI of 0.2mg/kg/h after an initial LD of 0.3mg/kg.
  • The researchers noted the times of first attempt at sternal recumbency (lying on the chest) and standing, and the total duration of recovery

Research Findings

  • The study found no differences in recovery times between the two groups.
  • The total recovery quality score, a measure of how smoothly and quickly the horses recovered, was also no different across the two groups.
  • Scores for the “sternal phase” of recovery, where the horses first attempt to lie on their chests, were higher (indicating poorer quality recovery) for group M2, but the scores in both groups were generally low.

Study Conclusions

  • The results of this research suggest that higher doses of morphine as used in the M2 treatment do not improve or affect the quality or duration of recovery in horses.
  • This finding is different from previous research that indicated perioperative morphine improves recovery quality after general anaesthesia in horses.

Study Implications

  • The study implies that while morphine can be used to assist in post-operative recovery in horses, increased doses may not necessarily provide additional benefits.
  • This has important applications in veterinary surgical practice as it can guide dosage decisions and expectations for recovery with different morphine doses.

Cite This Article

APA
Chesnel MA, Clutton RE. (2013). A comparison of two morphine doses on the quality of recovery from general anaesthesia in horses. Res Vet Sci, 95(3), 1195-1200. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rvsc.2013.07.001

Publication

Research in veterinary science
ISSN: 1532-2661
NlmUniqueID: 0401300
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 95
Issue: 3
Pages: 1195-1200

Researcher Affiliations

Chesnel, M A
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies & The Roslin Institute, The University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Roslin EH25 9RG, UK. Electronic address: mandoline_chesnel@hotmail.com.
Clutton, R E

    MeSH Terms

    • Anesthesia Recovery Period
    • Anesthesia, General / methods
    • Anesthesia, General / veterinary
    • Animals
    • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
    • Horses
    • Morphine / administration & dosage
    • Narcotics / administration & dosage

    Citations

    This article has been cited 2 times.
    1. Gozalo-Marcilla M, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Johnston M, Taylor PM, Redondo JI. Data Collection for the Fourth Multicentre Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Equine Fatalities (CEPEF4) Study: New Technology and Preliminary Results. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 30;11(9).
      doi: 10.3390/ani11092549pubmed: 34573515google scholar: lookup
    2. Gozalo-Marcilla M, Ringer SK. Recovery after General Anaesthesia in Adult Horses: A Structured Summary of the Literature. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 14;11(6).
      doi: 10.3390/ani11061777pubmed: 34198637google scholar: lookup
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