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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2021; 11(9); doi: 10.3390/ani11092572

Methadone or Butorphanol as Pre-Anaesthetic Agents Combined with Romifidine in Horses Undergoing Elective Surgery: Qualitative Assessment of Sedation and Induction.

Abstract: While butorphanol is the most commonly used opioid in horses, methadone is not licensed in most countries. Our aim was to compare the effects of both drugs, combined with romifidine, regarding the quality of sedation and induction in horses undergoing elective surgery. Results indicate the suitability of both methadone and butorphanol in this patient population. Animals were scored 10 min after intravenous injection of sedatives. Despite lower overall sedation (OS) score in horses receiving methadone (p = 0.002), the quality and time of induction and intubation remained unchanged. None of the horses had the lowest OS score (no sedation), nor the highest score for ataxia (horse falling). Methadone induced a tendency for minor noise reaction yet minor head lowering scores, the latter being probably the most influencing parameter when scoring OS. Measured physiological parameters decreased in both groups, with greater bradycardia recorded after methadone (p = 0.017), including a higher incidence of atrioventricular blocks that resolved during general anaesthesia. The quality of induction was good-excellent in most of the animals. While comparisons between the degree of antinociception were beyond the scope of this study, analgesic potency might influence the choice when considering opioids as pre-anaesthetic drugs in combination with romifidine before surgery in equines.
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Publication Date: 2021-08-31 PubMed ID: 34573538PubMed Central: PMC8467133DOI: 10.3390/ani11092572Google Scholar: Lookup
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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.

The research compares the effects of pre-anesthetic drugs methadone and butorphanol, both combined with romifidine, on the quality of sedation and induction in horses. The results found both drugs suitable, even though methadone led to slightly lower sedation scores, it did not affect the quality or time of induction and intubation.

Study Objective and Methodology

  • The study aimed to examine the effects of using methadone or butorphanol, in conjunction with romifidine, on the sedation and induction of equines before surgical procedures.
  • This comparison is of importance since butorphanol is currently the more popularly used opioid in horses, while methadone is not widely licensed.
  • Participating animals were evaluated 10 minutes after intravenous administration of these sedatives.

Key Findings

  • Methadone resulted in a slightly lower overall sedation score (OS), but this did not interfere with the quality or duration of induction and intubation.
  • None of the horses had the lowest OS score, indicating a lack of sedation, nor the highest score for ataxia, which would have meant a horse falling.
  • Methadone also led to a comparatively minor noise reaction and lower head lowering scores, which potentially impacted the OS scoring.
  • All detected physiological parameters diminished in the subjects in both test groups, greater bradycardia was noted after the use of methadone.
  • Instances of atrioventricular blocks were also higher with methadone usage but the complications eased during general anesthesia.
  • Additionally, the quality of induction was ranked ‘good-excellent’ among most test participants regardless of the type of pre-anesthetic administered.

Implications of Research

  • This research highlights the suitability of using either methadone or butorphanol as pre-anesthetic agents along with romifidine, opening up possibilities for broader usage of methadone in equine care.
  • However, the study also brings attention to certain physiological changes in the horse, especially with the use of methadone, which could warrant closer monitoring.
  • The analgesic potency of these drugs, though not a focus of this research, might influence the choice of opioid as a pre-anesthetic drug in romifidine-aided surgery preparations.

Cite This Article

APA
Nannarone S, Giannettoni G, Laurenza C, Giontella A, Moretti G. (2021). Methadone or Butorphanol as Pre-Anaesthetic Agents Combined with Romifidine in Horses Undergoing Elective Surgery: Qualitative Assessment of Sedation and Induction. Animals (Basel), 11(9). https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092572

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 11
Issue: 9

Researcher Affiliations

Nannarone, Sara
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Perugia University, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
Giannettoni, Giacomo
  • ADVETIA Centre Hospitalier Vétérinaire, Vélizy-Villacoublay, Île-de-France, 78140 Paris, France.
Laurenza, Chiara
  • Section of Anesthésiologie, Université de Lyon, VetAgro Sup, Marcy l'Etoile, 69280 Lyon, France.
Giontella, Andrea
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Perugia University, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
Moretti, Giulia
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine, Perugia University, Via San Costanzo 4, 06126 Perugia, Italy.

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
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  2. Haralambus R, Juri M, Mokry A, Jenner F. The impact of opioid administration on the incidence of postanaesthetic colic in horses. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2024;5:1347548.
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  3. Cock G, Blakeney Z, Hernandez JA, DeNotta S. Opioid-free sedation for atlantoaxial cerebrospinal fluid collection in adult horses. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Sep;36(5):1812-1819.
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