Abstract
Objective
To compare the antinociceptive, sedative and cardiovascular effects of dexmedetomidine
pharmacopuncture at Governing Vessel 1 (GV 1) with dexmedetomidine intramuscular (IM)
administration.
Study design
Randomized, masked crossover design.
Animals
A group of eight healthy female cats.
Methods
Cats were randomly administered either dexmedetomidine (0.005 mg kg–1; Dex–IM) IM or at acupuncture point GV 1 (Dex–P) separated by 1 week. Prior to and
up to 120 minutes posttreatment, skin temperature (ST), thermal threshold (TT), heart
rate (HR), respiratory rate (fR), sedation, muscle relaxation and auditory response scores were recorded. Parametric
data were analyzed using a two-way repeated measures anova followed by Tukey’s test for multiple comparisons. Nonparametric data were analyzed
using a Friedman test followed by Dunn’s multiple comparisons test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank
test with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons. Significance was set at
p ≤ 0.05.
Results
There were no differences within or between treatments for ST, fR and auditory response. TT was significantly higher at 30–90 minutes in Dex–P (p ≤ 0.0285) than baseline. TT was significantly higher at 60–90 minutes for Dex–P than
for Dex–IM (p ≤ 0.0252). HR was significantly lower at 10–75 minutes in Dex–P (p ≤ 0.0378) and at 5–75 minutes in Dex–IM (p ≤ 0.0132) than baseline. Compared with baseline, sedation scores were higher at 25
minutes (p = 0.0327) and 30 minutes (p = 0.0327), and muscle relaxation scores were higher at 25 minutes (p = 0.0151) and 35 minutes (p = 0.0151) in Dex–P. There were no differences in HR, sedation and muscle relaxation
scores between treatments.
Conclusions and clinical relevance
Dex–P increased thermal antinociception compared with Dex–IM at the same dose of dexmedetomidine
in cats. This antinociceptive effect must be evaluated under clinical situations.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: March 28, 2019
Accepted:
March 10,
2019
Received:
October 31,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2019 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
