The aim of this study was to evaluate laser acupuncture as an adjuvant for postoperative pain management in cats. Twenty cats, undergoing ovariohysterectomy, were sedated with intramuscular (IM) ketamine (5 mg kg−1), midazolam (0.5 mg kg−1), and tramadol (2 mg kg−1). Prior to induction of anaesthesia, the subjects were randomly distributed into two groups of 10 cats: Laser: bilateral stomach 36 and spleen 6 acupoints were stimulated with infrared laser; Control: no acupuncture was applied. Anaesthesia was induced using intravenous propofol (4 mg kg−1) and maintained with isoflurane. Postoperative analgesia was evaluated by a blinded assessor for 24 h following extubation using the Dynamic Interactive Visual Analogue Scale and Multidimensional Composite Pain Scale. Rescue analgesia was provided with IM tramadol (2 mg kg−1), and the pain scores were reassessed 30 min after the rescue intervention. If the analgesia remained insufficient, meloxicam (0.2 mg kg−1 IM, single dose) was administered. Data were analyzed using t-tests, the Mann-Whitney test, and the Friedman test (P < 0.05). The pain scores did not differ between groups. However, postoperative supplemental analgesia was required by significantly more cats in the Control (5/10) compared with the Laser group (1/10) (P = 0.038). Laser acupuncture reduced postoperative analgesic requirements in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy.

A comparison of detomidine in combination with saline, morphine or methadone in horses submitted to experimental oral stimuli Comparação entre a associação da detomidina à solução salina, à morfina ou à metadona em cavalos submetidos aos estímulos experimentais na cavidade oral AbstractThis study aimed to compare the sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of detomidine in combination with saline, morphine or methadone and to determine whether the addition of these opioids increases the degree of sedation in horses submitted to experimental oral stimuli. In a blinded, randomized, experimental study, six adult mares were evaluated using a crossover design with at least 15 days between trials: 10µg/kg detomidine in combination with saline (D/SAL), 0.1mg/kg morphine (D/ MORPH) or 0.1mg/kg methadone (D/METH). The degree of sedation, response to oral stimuli and cardiopulmonary parameters were monitored for 120 minutes. Parametric data were analyzed using the ANOVA and Tukey's tests, and non-parametric data were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman's tests with the post-Dunn test (P<0.05). The degree of sedation was significantly greater for the D/SAL than for the D/MORPH and D/METH treatments at 30 min. The horses´ responses to the oral stimuli decreased significantly following all treatments at 5 and 30 min from baseline values. The heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial pH and blood gas variables were all similar among the treatment groups. Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly higher in the D/MORPH group when compared with the D/SAL group between 75 and 120 min. It was concluded that all treatments provided sedative effects with mild cardiopulmonary changes. However the addition of morphine or methadone to detomidine did not improve the degree of sedation in horses submitted to experimental oral stimuli. Key words: Alpha 2 adrenoreceptor agonists, dental, equine, opioids ResumoObjetivou-se comparar os efeitos sedativos e cardiorrespiratórios da detomidina associada à solução salina, à morfina ou à metadona e determinar se a associação desses opioides poderia incrementar o grau de sedação em cavalos submetidos aos estímulos na cavidade oral. Em estudo cego, com delineamento aleatório foram avaliadas 06 éguas, com intervalo mínimo de 15 dias entre cada avaliação, sendo submetidos aos protocolos de sedação com detomidina (10mg/kg, IV) associada à solução salina (D/SAL), a 0,1mg/kg (IV) de morfina (D/MORF) ou a 0,1mg/kg (IV) de metadona (D/MET).

A comparison of detomidine in combination with saline, morphine or methadone in horses submitted to experimental oral stimuli Comparação entre a associação da detomidina à solução salina, à morfina ou à metadona em cavalos submetidos aos estímulos experimentais na cavidade oral AbstractThis study aimed to compare the sedative and cardiopulmonary effects of detomidine in combination with saline, morphine or methadone and to determine whether the addition of these opioids increases the degree of sedation in horses submitted to experimental oral stimuli. In a blinded, randomized, experimental study, six adult mares were evaluated using a crossover design with at least 15 days between trials: 10µg/kg detomidine in combination with saline (D/SAL), 0.1mg/kg morphine (D/ MORPH) or 0.1mg/kg methadone (D/METH). The degree of sedation, response to oral stimuli and cardiopulmonary parameters were monitored for 120 minutes. Parametric data were analyzed using the ANOVA and Tukey's tests, and non-parametric data were analyzed with the Kruskal-Wallis and Friedman's tests with the post-Dunn test (P<0.05). The degree of sedation was significantly greater for the D/SAL than for the D/MORPH and D/METH treatments at 30 min. The horses´ responses to the oral stimuli decreased significantly following all treatments at 5 and 30 min from baseline values. The heart rate, respiratory rate, arterial pH and blood gas variables were all similar among the treatment groups. Mean arterial blood pressure was significantly higher in the D/MORPH group when compared with the D/SAL group between 75 and 120 min. It was concluded that all treatments provided sedative effects with mild cardiopulmonary changes. However the addition of morphine or methadone to detomidine did not improve the degree of sedation in horses submitted to experimental oral stimuli. Key words: Alpha 2 adrenoreceptor agonists, dental, equine, opioids ResumoObjetivou-se comparar os efeitos sedativos e cardiorrespiratórios da detomidina associada à solução salina, à morfina ou à metadona e determinar se a associação desses opioides poderia incrementar o grau de sedação em cavalos submetidos aos estímulos na cavidade oral. Em estudo cego, com delineamento aleatório foram avaliadas 06 éguas, com intervalo mínimo de 15 dias entre cada avaliação, sendo submetidos aos protocolos de sedação com detomidina (10mg/kg, IV) associada à solução salina (D/SAL), a 0,1mg/kg (IV) de morfina (D/MORF) ou a 0,1mg/kg (IV) de metadona (D/MET).

IIInfusão contínua intravenosa de midazolam isolado ou associado ao fentanil para realização de endoscopia em suínosContinuous infusion rate of midazolam alone or in combination with fentanyl for endoscopy in swine