Randomised clinical trial comparing the perioperative analgesic efficacy of oral tramadol and intramuscular tramadol in cats.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the analgesic efficacy of oral tramadol in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. METHODS: Twenty-four female domestic cats, American Society of Anesthesiologists class I, aged 4-24 months, were included in this positive controlled, randomised, blinded clinical trial. Cats admitted for ovariohysterectomy were allocated to group oral tramadol (GOT, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;12) or group intramuscular tramadol (GIMT, n&#x2009;=&#x2009;12). In GOT, tramadol (6&#x2009;mg/kg) was given orally 60&#x2009;mins, and saline was given intramuscularly 30&#x2009;mins, before induction of anaesthesia. In GIMT, granulated sugar in capsules was given orally 60&#x2009;mins and tramadol (4&#x2009;mg/kg) intramuscularly 30&#x2009;mins before induction of anaesthesia. In both groups, dexmedetomidine (0.007&#x2009;mg/kg) was given intramuscularly 30&#x2009;mins before induction of anaesthesia with intravenous propofol. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen, and atipamezole (0.037&#x2009;mg/kg) was given intramuscularly 10&#x2009;mins after extubation. The UNESP-Botucatu multidimensional composite scale was used to conduct pain assessments before premedication and at 20, 60, 120, 240 and 360&#x2009;mins post-extubation or until rescue analgesia was given. To compare groups, the 60&#x2009;min postoperative pain scores and the highest postoperative pain scores were analysed via a two-tailed Mann-Whitney test, and the incidences of rescue analgesia were analysed via a Fisher's exact test;<0.05. RESULTS: There was no significant difference between groups for the 60&#x2009;min (&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.68) pain scores. The highest postoperative pain score was higher for GIMT compared with GOT (&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.04). Only two cats required rescue analgesia, both from GIMT. The incidence of rescue analgesia was not significantly different between groups (&#x2009;=&#x2009;0.46). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: In the present study, preoperative administration of oral tramadol at 6&#x2009;mg/kg to cats provided adequate analgesia for 6&#x2009;h following ovariohysterectomy surgery.