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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Sci / Influence of Butorphanol, Buprenorphine and Levomethadone on...
Veterinary sciences2022; 9(4); doi: 10.3390/vetsci9040174

Influence of Butorphanol, Buprenorphine and Levomethadone on Sedation Quality and Postoperative Analgesia in Horses Undergoing Cheek Tooth Extraction.

Abstract: The aim of this prospective clinical trial was to compare the influence of butorphanol, buprenorphine and levomethadone on sedation quality and postoperative analgesia in horses undergoing cheek tooth extraction. Fifty horses were assigned to three groups prior to oral cheek tooth extraction. Horses were treated with acepromazine, followed by a detomidine bolus, one of the three opioids and both a nerve block and gingival anaesthesia. During the surgery, sedation was maintained with a detomidine constant rate infusion. After surgery, the quality of sedation, surgical conditions and severity of the extraction were assessed with a numerical rating scale. To evaluate differences in the quality of analgesia between the three treatments, postoperative pain was estimated with the Equine Utrecht University Scale for Facial Assessment of Pain. Additionally, several parameters that are associated with dental pain were added to this validated pain score, and blood samples were taken to measure serum cortisol. Our analysis showed lower pain scores and a greater analgesic effect with levomethadone and buprenorphine compared with butorphanol, with increased locomotor activity induced by buprenorphine. While cortisol values demonstrated higher response in horses treated with levomethadone and buprenorphine compared to butorphanol, these values could be biased by unrelated stressors.
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Publication Date: 2022-04-06 PubMed ID: 35448672PubMed Central: PMC9029614DOI: 10.3390/vetsci9040174Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 research compares how butorphanol, buprenorphine and levomethadone influence the quality of sedation and post-surgery pain relief in horses undergoing cheek tooth extraction. It found that levomethadone and buprenorphine provided better pain relief compared to butorphanol, though buprenorphine-induced increased movement in horses.

Objective of the Research

  • The study aimed to compare the effectiveness of three opioids — butorphanol, buprenorphine, and levomethadone — on the quality of sedation and post-surgery pain relief in horses undergoing cheek tooth extraction. The comparison was done as part of a clinical trial that examined 50 horses.

Methodology

  • The researchers divided the horses into three groups, with each group getting a pre-surgery treatment of acepromazine and detomidine bolus, along with one of the three opioids under study. The selected opioids were pumped into the horses’ bodies through a nerve block combined with gingival anesthesia.
  • Sedation during the procedure was maintained using a detomidine constant rate infusion.
  • Post-surgery, the researchers assessed the quality of sedation, the conditions during the surgery, and the severity of the extraction using a numerical rating scale.
  • The research team also checked the differences in pain relief after the surgery between the three treatments by estimating postoperative pain using the Equine Utrecht University Scale for Facial Assessment of Pain, and additional parameters associated with dental pain.
  • Additionally, the team took blood samples from the horses to measure serum cortisol.

Research Analysis

  • The results showed that horses given levomethadone and buprenorphine experienced lower pain scores, indicating greater pain relief, compared to horses given butorphanol. However, buprenorphine induced more physical movement in horses than the other two opioids.
  • Meanwhile, horses in the levomethadone and buprenorphine groups also showed a higher response in terms of cortisol values as compared to the butorphanol group, potentially indicating a higher level of stress. Nevertheless, these cortisol values could be influenced by stress factors unrelated to the study, such as the environment or handling of the horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Emanuel D, Kästner SBR, Delarocque J, Grob AJ, Bienert-Zeit A. (2022). Influence of Butorphanol, Buprenorphine and Levomethadone on Sedation Quality and Postoperative Analgesia in Horses Undergoing Cheek Tooth Extraction. Vet Sci, 9(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci9040174

Publication

Veterinary sciences
ISSN: 2306-7381
NlmUniqueID: 101680127
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 9
Issue: 4

Researcher Affiliations

Emanuel, Daphna
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
Kästner, Sabine B R
  • Clinic for Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
Delarocque, Julien
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
Grob, Anne J
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany.
Bienert-Zeit, Astrid
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Buenteweg 9, 30559 Hannover, Germany.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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