Preliminary investigation comparing a detomidine continuous rate infusion combined with either morphine or buprenorphine for standing sedation in horses.
Abstract: To compare sedative and analgesic properties of buprenorphine or morphine for standing procedures combined with a detomidine continuous rate infusion (CRI). Methods: Blinded, prospective, randomized clinical pilot study. Methods: Ten horses presented for dental or sinus procedures. Methods: Horses received 0.02 mg kg(-1) acepromazine intravenously (IV), followed 30 minutes later by detomidine 10 μg kg(-1) IV. Five minutes later, buprenorphine 0.01 mg kg(-1) (n = 6) or morphine 0.1 mg kg(-1) (n = 4) was administered IV. Detomidine was administered by CRI (0.2 μg kg(-1) minute(-1)) and adjusted to maintain appropriate sedation. Heart rate, respiratory frequency, gastrointestinal motility and rectal temperature were measured; pain, ataxia and sedation were scored. Sedation, pain scores and ataxia scores were analysed using a mixed linear model. Detomidine dose and procedure success scores were compared using Wilcoxon's rank sum test. Complications between groups were analysed using Fisher's exact test. Results: Two horses had incomplete data. Weights and ages were not different between groups (p = 0.15 and p = 0.42, respectively). The dose rate for detomidine was not different between groups (0.33 ± 0.02 μg kg(-1) minute(-1) in the buprenorphine group and 0.33 ± 0.05 μg kg(-1) minute(-1), in the morphine group p = 0.89). Intraoperative visual analogue scale scores were greater after buprenorphine than morphine (mean ± SD, buprenorphine 48 ± 4, morphine 40 ± 5, p = 0.0497). Procedure duration was not different between groups (buprenorphine 142 ± 33, morphine 140 ± 12 minutes). All horses treated with buprenorphine experienced complications compared with none in the morphine group (p = 0.0286). Conclusions: At the doses used, buprenorphine produced greater sedation but more post-operative complications than morphine. However, Type I or Type II errors cannot be excluded and larger studies are required to confirm these findings.
© 2015 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.
Publication Date: 2015-10-19 PubMed ID: 26479277DOI: 10.1111/vaa.12316Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
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The research investigates the efficacy and side effects of buprenorphine and morphine, used in conjunction with detomidine, for standing sedation in horses undergoing dental or sinus procedures.
Objective and Methodology
- The main objective of the study was to examine and compare the sedative and analgesic effects of either buprenorphine or morphine when combined with a continuous rate infusion of detomidine in horses undergoing procedures.
- It was a blinded, prospective, randomized clinical pilot study that involved ten horses presented for either dental or sinus procedures.
- Each horse was first administered with acepromazine, followed by detomidine. Later on, either buprenorphine was administered to six horses or morphine to four horses. Detomidine was also continuously infused and adjusted as necessary to maintain the appropriate level of sedation.
- The study closely measured heart rate, respiratory frequency, gastrointestinal motility, and rectal temperature, and also scored pain, ataxia, and sedation levels of the horses.
- To analyze these measured parameters and scores, various tests such as mixed linear model, Wilcoxon’s rank sum test, and Fisher’s exact test were used.
Findings
- There was no statistically significant difference observed in the dose rate of detomidine regardless of whether it was combined with buprenorphine or morphine.
- The intraoperative visual analogue scale scores were higher for buprenorphine compared to morphine, indicating that buprenorphine produced greater sedation.
- The duration of the procedure was not significantly different between the two groups.
- All horses treated with buprenorphine experienced post-operative complications, while none were observed in those treated with morphine.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that at the used dosage, buprenorphine yielded greater sedation in horses than morphine when used with detomidine. However, the horses treated with buprenorphine also experienced more post-operative complications.
- It was also noted that there could be a risk of Type I (false positive) or Type II (false negative) errors in the research findings, indicating the need for larger studies to confirm these findings.
Cite This Article
APA
Potter JJ, MacFarlane PD, Love EJ, Tremaine H, Taylor PM, Murrell JC.
(2015).
Preliminary investigation comparing a detomidine continuous rate infusion combined with either morphine or buprenorphine for standing sedation in horses.
Vet Anaesth Analg, 43(2), 189-194.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vaa.12316 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Anaesthesia, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
- School of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Anaesthesia, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
- School of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Anaesthesia, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
- School of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Equine Medicine and Surgery, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
- Taylor Monroe, Little Downham, UK.
- School of Veterinary Sciences, Department of Anaesthesia, University of Bristol, Langford, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Adrenergic alpha-2 Receptor Agonists / administration & dosage
- Analgesics, Opioid / administration & dosage
- Anesthesia / veterinary
- Animals
- Buprenorphine / administration & dosage
- Drug Interactions
- Equidae
- Female
- Heart Rate / drug effects
- Hypnotics and Sedatives / administration & dosage
- Hypnotics and Sedatives / pharmacology
- Imidazoles / administration & dosage
- Infusions, Intravenous
- Male
- Morphine / administration & dosage
- Pilot Projects
- Postoperative Complications
- Prospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Thorn CA, Wilson DV, Wang S, Horne WA. Impact of sequential administration of detomidine, butorphanol, and midazolam on sedation, ataxia, stimulus response, and bispectral index in horses. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1691137.
- Arantes JA, Rabelo IP, Bermudes L, Lacerenza MD, Mendes RP, Corrêa RR, Yamada DI, Valadão CAA, Dória RGS. Optimizing equine standing sedation: continuous infusion of detomidine and butorphanol enhances stability but prolongs ataxia. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1606585.
- Paranjape VV, Knych HK, Berghaus LJ, Giancola S, Cathcart J, Reed RA. Plasma concentrations of buprenorphine administered via matrix-type transdermal patches applied at three different anatomical locations in healthy adult horses. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2024;5:1390322.
- Vullo C, Gugliandolo E, Biondi V, Biffarella M, Catone G, Tambella AM. Comparison of Detomidine or Romifidine in Combination with Morphine for Standing Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Horses. Vet Sci 2024 Mar 8;11(3).
- Paranjape VV, Knych HK, Berghaus LJ, Cathcart J, Giancola S, Craig H, James C, Saksena S, Reed RA. Evaluation of physical variables, thermal nociceptive threshold testing and pharmacokinetics during placement of transdermal buprenorphine matrix-type patch in healthy adult horses. Front Pain Res (Lausanne) 2024;5:1373555.
- Haunhorst FR, Hopster K, Schmicke M, Bienert-Zeit A, Kästner S. Clinical effect of buprenorphine or butorphanol, in combination with detomidine and diazepam, on sedation and postoperative pain after cheek tooth extraction in horses. Can Vet J 2022 Jan;63(1):39-46.
- de Oliveira AR, Gozalo-Marcilla M, Ringer SK, Schauvliege S, Fonseca MW, Esteves Trindade PH, Prospero Puoli Filho JN, Luna SPL. Development and validation of the facial scale (FaceSed) to evaluate sedation in horses. PLoS One 2021;16(6):e0251909.
- de Oliveira AR, Gozalo-Marcilla M, Ringer SK, Schauvliege S, Fonseca MW, Trindade PHE, Puoli Filho JNP, Luna SPL. Development, Validation, and Reliability of a Sedation Scale in Horses (EquiSed). Front Vet Sci 2021;8:611729.
- Taylor PM, Hoare HR, de Vries A, Love EJ, Coumbe KM, White KL, Murrell JC. A multicentre, prospective, randomised, blinded clinical trial to compare some perioperative effects of buprenorphine or butorphanol premedication before equine elective general anaesthesia and surgery. Equine Vet J 2016 Jul;48(4):442-50.
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