Bauquier, Sébastien H., Warne, Leon N., Carter, Jennifer E., Whittem, Ted, and Beths, Thierry (2017) Influence of two administration rates of alfaxalone at induction on its relative potency in cats: a pilot study. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 19 (2). pp. 231-234.

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Abstract

Objectives: The aim of the study was to evaluate, in a controlled, randomised, masked clinical trial, the influence of administration rate of alfaxalone at induction on its relative potency in cats and to report the incidence of cardiorespiratory adverse effects.

Methods: Twelve healthy female domestic cats admitted for ovariohysterectomy were premedicated with buprenorphine 20 µg/kg intramuscularly and alfaxalone 3.0 mg/kg subcutaneously. Sedation scores were established (using a published scale ranging from 1 [no sedation] to 5 [profound sedation]) prior to anaesthesia induction with alfaxalone intravenously at 2 mg/kg/min (group A2; n = 6) or 0.5 mg/kg/min (group A0.5; n = 6) to effect until orotracheal intubation was achieved. Sedation scores and alfaxalone induction doses were compared between the groups, using a Mann–Whitney exact test.

Results are reported as median and range. Presence of apnoea (no breathing for more than 30 s) or hypotension (mean arterial blood pressure <60 mmHg) within 5 mins postintubation was also reported. Results: Although sedation scores (1.5 [range 1.0–3.0] and 2.5 [range 1.0–3.0] for A2 and A0.5, respectively) were not significantly different (P = 0.32), cats in group A2 required significantly more alfaxalone (4.3 mg/kg [range 3.4–7.0 mg/kg]) than group A0.5 (2.1 mg/kg [range 1.5–2.5 mg/kg]) (P = 0.002). Two cats in each group presented postinduction apnoea, and two cats in group A2 and three cats in group A0.5 presented postinduction hypotension.

Conclusions and relevance: The use of a slower induction infusion rate resulted in an increase in the alfaxalone relative potency without obvious cardiorespiratory benefit.

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