Cardiopulmonary changes following preanaesthetic administration of dexmedetomidine-butorphanol or fentanyl in cats anaesthetized with ketamine-isoflurane

The present clinical study was conducted to assess the cardiopulmonary effects of dexmedetomidine- butorphanol or fentanyl premedication in cats anaesthetized with ketamineisoflurane. Eighteen female cats were divided into three groups. In group I, dexmedetomidine was administered (10.0 μg/kg body wt, i.m.) as a premedicant. In groups II and III, butorphanol or fentanyl was administered i.m. (0.2 mg/kg and 5.0 μg/kg body wt, respectively) along with dexmedetomidine (10.0 μg/kg body wt) as premedication. In all three groups, 15 min later, anaesthesia was induced with i.m. administration of ketamine (5.0 mg/kg body wt) and maintained with isoflurane. Heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, saturation of peripheral oxygen (SPO₂), inspired fraction of oxygen (FiO₂), end tidal oxygen (ETO₂), inspired fraction of carbon dioxide (FiCO₂), end tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO₂) and electrocardiography (ECG) were recorded at different time intervals. A significant (P<0.05) increase in heart rate before premedication was observed in all groups. There was no significant change in the FiO₂, ETO₂ and ETCO₂ among different groups. No life threatening cardiovascular emergencies were encountered. It was concluded that butorphanol and fentanyl had excellent quality of analgesia but fentanyl had better intraoperative analgesia without any excitation.