Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia2005; 32(1); 16-22; doi: 10.1111/j.1467-2995.2004.00184.x

Comparison of morphine and butorphanol as pre-anaesthetic agents in combination with romifidine for field castration in ponies.

Corletto, F
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Raisis, AA
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Brearley, JC

Abstract: The aim of this study was to compare two different alpha2 agonist-opioid combinations in ponies undergoing field castration. Methods: Prospective double-blind randomized clinical trial. Methods: Fifty-four ponies undergoing field castration. Methods: The ponies were randomly allocated to receive one of three different pre-anaesthetic medications [intravenous (IV) romifidine 100 microg kg(-1) and butorphanol 50 micro kg(-1); romifidine 100 microg kg(-1) and morphine 0.1 mg kg(-1) IV, or romifidine 100 microg kg(-1) and saline IV] before induction of anaesthesia with ketamine 2.2 mg kg(-1) IV. Further doses of romifidine (25 microg kg(-1)) and ketamine (0.5 mg kg(-1)) were given when required to maintain anaesthesia. Quality of sedation, induction of anaesthesia, maintenance of anaesthesia, recovery, and surgical condition were assessed using a visual analogue scale scoring system and compared. The effects of the different drug combinations on heart and respiratory rate were evaluated and the recovery time was recorded. Results: Anaesthesia was considered adequate for surgery in all ponies. No anaesthetic complications were observed. Quality of sedation was significantly better in the butorphanol group compared with the control group (p = 0.0428). Overall quality of anaesthesia was better in the butorphanol group compared with morphine (p = 0.0157) and control (p < 0.05) groups. Quality of induction of anaesthesia and recovery were not significantly different between groups, nor were the surgical conditions, recovery time and the number of repeated anaesthetic doses required during the procedure. Muscle twitches were observed in both the control and morphine groups. Maintenance of anaesthesia was judged to be smoother in the butorphanol group compared with the morphine and control groups (p = 0.006). Heart rate decreased significantly (p < 0.01) in all groups after administration of sedatives but did not differ significantly between groups at any time point. Conclusions: The combination of butorphanol and romifidine was found to provide better sedation compared with the other drug combinations. Conclusions: The combination of butorphanol and romifidine provided better sedation, but morphine was found to be a suitable alternative to butorphanol. Use of morphine and butorphanol in combination with alpha2 agonists should be further investigated to assess their analgesic effects.

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Publication Date: 2005-01-25 PubMed ID: 15663735DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-2995.2004.00184.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup

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Clinical Trial
Comparative Study
Journal Article
Randomized Controlled Trial

Summary

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This research aims to compare the effectiveness of two different combinations of sedative drugs used for anaesthesia in ponies undergoing castration procedures. It was found that the combination of romifidine and butorphanol provided a better quality of sedation and maintenance of anaesthesia compared to the combination of romifidine and morphine or romifidine with saline.

Objective and Methodology

The main objective of this experiment was to compare and evaluate the effects of two different alpha2 agonist-opioid combinations used as pre-operative sedatives. The substances tested were combinations of intravenous romifidine and butorphanol, romifidine and morphine, and romifidine with saline.
A total of 54 ponies, all due for castration, were used in this randomized clinical trial. They were divided into groups and each group was administered one of the drug combinations. Ketamine was used to induce the anaesthesia and additional doses of romifidine and ketamine were given as required to maintain the anaesthesia.

Measurements and Observations

The researchers assessed the quality of sedation, induction of anaesthesia, maintenance of anaesthesia, and recovery. They also evaluated the surgical condition.
The effects of each drug combination were judged using a visual analogue scale scoring system. The researchers took note of the heart and respiratory rates, the recovery time, and the number of repeated anaesthetic doses needed during the procedure for each group.

Findings

According to the results, anaesthesia was adequately maintained in all the ponies. There were no anaesthetic complications.
The group of ponies that received the combination of romifidine and butorphanol experienced significantly better sedation compared to the group that received romifidine and saline.
The overall quality of the anaesthesia was better in the butorphanol group compared to the morphine group and the saline group.
The study observed muscle twitches in the saline and morphine groups. Furthermore, recovery time, surgical conditions, and the number of additional anaesthetic doses needed during the procedure did not show significant differences between groups.

Conclusion

The research concluded that the combination of romifidine and butorphanol provided better sedation and smoother maintenance of anaesthesia.
The combination of romifidine and morphine can also be considered suitable but less effective. The use of morphine or butorphanol in combination with alpha2 agonists needs further investigation to assess their pain-relieving effects.

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APA

Corletto F, Raisis AA, Brearley JC. (2005). Comparison of morphine and butorphanol as pre-anaesthetic agents in combination with romifidine for field castration in ponies. Vet Anaesth Analg, 32(1), 16-22. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-2995.2004.00184.x