The effect of inhalant anesthetic and body temperature on peri-anesthetic serum concentrations of transdermally administered fentanyl in dogs

Comparison between meloxicam and transdermally administered fentanyl for treatment of postoperative pain in dogs undergoing osteotomy of the tibia and fibula and placement of a uniplanar external distraction device

“…3,4 The initial absorption rate is slow, and it takes approximately 6 to 24 hours for peak plasma concentrations to be attained. 3,7 Reportedly, 7,8 hypothermia and use of inhalant anesthetics, especially isoflurane, decrease the fentanyl concentration in serum. 5,6 The transdermal fentanyl patch is an acceptable mode of administration of an analgesic postoperatively after major orthopedic surgery in dogs.…”

Assessment of the effects of adjunctive gabapentin on postoperative pain after intervertebral disc surgery in dogs

“…1996) 24 hours after patch application with a duration of approximately 72 hours (Hofmeister & Egger 2004). However, plasma fentanyl concentrations can be very variable with variations in the degree of the analgesic effect, depending on type of skin preparation, skin and environmental temperatures and skin perfusion (Pettifer & Hosgood 2004) and patch size (Egger et al. 1998).…”

Extending postoperative opioid analgesia in dogs 2. Transdermal drug administration

“…■ Hypothermia reduces fentanyl uptake from the patch (Pettifer and Hosgood 2004, Wilson and others 2006). External heat via warming devices placed on the patch increases systemic fentanyl absorption with the risk of overdose (Gupta and others 1992).…”