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Objective: To evaluate the cardiovascular effects of atipamezole administered at half the volume or the same volume as dexmedetomidine to isoflurane-anesthetized cats., Animals: 6 adult (1 to 2 years old) domestic shorthair cats (body weight, 3 to 6 kg)., Procedures: Each cat was anesthetized with isoflurane and rocuronium 3 times; there was a 1-week washout period between successive anesthetic procedures. For each anesthetic procedure, dexmedetomidine (5 μg/kg) was administered IV. Five minutes after dexmedetomidine was administered, atipamezole (25 or 50 μg/kg) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution was administered IM. Pulse rate, mean arterial blood pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO), and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) were measured during anesthesia before dexmedetomidine administration (baseline), after dexmedetomidine administration, and 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes after administration of atipamezole or saline solution. Pulse rate and MAP were also recorded when MAP was at its lowest value. Hemodynamic variables were compared among treatments at baseline, after dexmedetomidine administration, and after administration of atipamezole or saline solution. Effects of treatment and time on all variables were assessed with mixed-effects models., Results: Both doses of atipamezole resulted in a significantly lower MAP than did saline solution. Pulse rate, CO, and SVR were not significantly different among treatments after atipamezole or saline solution were administered., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Atipamezole administered IM at half the volume or the same volume as dexmedetomidine was ineffective at increasing pulse rate or CO in anesthetized cats that received dexmedetomidine. However, atipamezole caused short-lasting but severe arterial hypotension.

Objectives The aim of the study was to evaluate the antiemetic effects of maropitant, after oral administration, in cats receiving morphine and dexmedetomidine. Methods This prospective, blinded, randomized controlled trial involved 98 healthy female domestic shorthair cats. Cats were randomly assigned to receive maropitant PO 8 mg total (group M) administered 18 h prior to sedation with intramuscular dexmedetomidine 20 µg/kg and morphine 0.1 mg/kg, or no antiemetic treatment (group C). The occurrence of signs of nausea (sialorrhea and lip-licking), retching and emesis during the 30 mins following administration of dexmedetomidine and morphine was measured for each group. Results Two cats were excluded from the investigation. Cats in group M (n = 46) received an average of 2.5 mg/kg of maropitant PO. Compared with group C (n = 50), cats in group M had lower incidences of emesis (M: 4% vs C: 40%), retching (M: 8% vs C: 40%) and lip-licking (M: 30% vs C: 52%) (all P <0.05). The incidence of sialorrhea was not different between groups (M: 21% vs C: 22%). Conclusions and relevance Maropitant 8 mg total PO was effective in reducing morphine and dexmedetomidine-induced emesis by 10-fold, when administered as early as 18 h in advance to healthy cats. Maropitant PO could be useful for administration the evening prior to a scheduled procedure requiring sedation/anesthesia to decrease the incidence of emesis.

Objective: To evaluate whether the ultrashort-acting neuromuscular blocking agent gantacurium can be used to blunt evoked laryngospasm in anesthetized cats and to determine the duration of apnea without hemoglobin desaturation., Animals: 8 healthy adult domestic shorthair cats., Procedures: Each cat was anesthetized with dexmedetomidine and propofol, instrumented with a laryngeal mask, and allowed to breathe spontaneously (fraction of inspired oxygen, 1.0). The larynx was stimulated by spraying sterile water (0.3 mL) at the rima glottidis; a fiberscope placed in the laryngeal mask airway was used to detect evoked laryngospasm. Laryngeal stimulation was performed at baseline; after IV administration of gantacurium at doses of 0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 mg/kg; and after the effects of the last dose of gantacurium had terminated. Duration of apnea and hemoglobin oxygen saturation (measured by means of pulse oximetry) after each laryngeal stimulation were recorded. Neuromuscular block was monitored throughout the experiment by means of acceleromyography on a pelvic limb., Results: Laryngospasm was elicited in all cats at baseline, after administration of 0.1mg of gantacurium/kg, and after the effects of the last dose of gantacurium had terminated. The 0.3 and 0.5 mg/kg doses of gantacurium abolished laryngospasm in 3 and 8 cats, respectively, and induced complete neuromuscular block measured at the pelvic limb; the mean ± SE duration of apnea was 2 ± 1 minutes and 3 ± 1.5 minutes, respectively. Hemoglobin oxygen saturation did not decrease significantly after administration of any dose of gantacurium., Conclusions and Clinical Relevance: Gantacurium may reduce tracheal intubation-associated morbidity in cats breathing oxygen.

OBJECTIVE To test whether the use of a flexible endotracheal tube introducer (ETI) facilitates intubation of cats by veterinary students with little or no experience. ANIMALS 125 healthy cats. PROCEDURES Cats were sedated with dexmedetomidine and morphine IM, and anesthesia was induced with propofol. They were randomly assigned to be intubated by supervised veterinary students using an ETI within a tracheal tube or an endotracheal tube alone (3.0,3.5, or 4.0 internal diameter sizes). Success rate at first attempt, number of attempts to intubate (up to 3), and time to Intubate were recorded. Multivariate logistic regression was used to test associations between several factors such as use of an ETI, cat's weight, endotracheal tube size, administration of ketamine for sedation, and first-attempt success. Significance was considered when P < 0.05. RESULTS Success rate for the first attempt was higher with an ETI (79% [51/64) than without it (46% [28/61]), and attempts to intubate were fewer when an ETI was used (both P < 0.001). Time to intubate did not differ between groups (ETI, 30 seconds [4 to 143 seconds]; endotracheal tube, 28 seconds [5 to 180 seconds]). Use of an ETI was positively associated with improved first-attempt success, and the 3.0-mm internal diameter of the tube was negatively associated (both P g 0.001). CLINICAL RELEVANCE The use of a flexible ETI improved the success of first-attempt intubation of cats by veterinary students. This technique may help minimize the number of attempts during intubation and incidence of complications that could arise from multiple attempts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]