A prospective, randomised, blinded, clinical trial in 47 ponies compared butorphanol and buprenorphine administered intravenously with detomidine prior to castration under anaesthesia. Detomidine 12 μg/kg intravenously was followed by butorphanol 25 μg/kg (BUT) or buprenorphine 5 μg/kg (BUP) before induction of anaesthesia with intravenous ketamine and diazepam. Quality of sedation, induction and recovery from anaesthesia, response to tactile stimulation, and surgical conditions were scored. If anaesthesia was inadequate 'rescue' was given with intravenous ketamine (maximum three doses) followed by intravenous thiopental and detomidine. Time from induction to first rescue, total ketamine dose and number of rescues were recorded. Postoperative locomotor activity was scored and abnormal behaviour noted. Simple descriptive scales were used for all scoring. Data were analysed using two-way analysis of variance, t tests, Mann-Whitney or Fisher's exact tests as appropriate; P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Cryptorchid animals did not undergo surgery, but castration was successfully completed in 18 BUT and 20 BUP. More incremental ketamine (P=0.0310) and more rescue drugs (P=0.0165) were required in BUT and more postoperative locomotor activity occurred in BUP (P=0.0001). There were no other differences between groups. Both opioids were suitable for premedication prior to castration but buprenorphine appeared to provide better intraoperative analgesia.

A seven‐month‐old French Mastiff was scheduled to undergo exploratory laparotomy for the removal of gastric foreign bodies. Buprenorphine 20 μg/kg was administered intravenously as preanaesthetic medication. Five minutes after the injection, tachypnoea, dyspnoea, cyanosis and tachycardia developed; periorbital, labial and lingual oedema were also noted. Anaesthesia was induced with 4 mg/kg of propofol, and laryngeal visualisation revealed severe laryngeal oedema. The trachea was intubated with a 6 mm endotracheal tube and anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. Fluid therapy was started and glucocorticoids were administered. The exploratory laparotomy was completed and gastric foreign bodies were removed. A temporary tracheostomy was performed as no improvement of the laryngeal oedema was detected. The patient recovered uneventfully and after 48 hours the tracheostomy tube was removed successfully. The reaction may be attributed to histamine release following injection of buprenorphine.

Prewarming in an incubator prior to IOA failed to improve or maintain body temperature of dogs weighing < 10 kg during inhalation anesthesia.

No abstract

A cavalier King Charles spaniel was anaesthetised for upper airway surgery. A constant rate infusion of fentanyl at 6 μg/kg/hour and top-up boluses (5 μg/kg in total) were used for intraoperative analgesia. Intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) was instituted due to tachypnoea and inability to maintain normocapnia. Apnoea and severe hypercapnia developed after cessation of IPPV. IPPV was recommenced for 10 min to reduce hypercapnia, after which spontaneous ventilation returned. The patient had not awakened 45 minutes after isoflurane was turned off and 0.01 mg/kg naloxone was administered intravenously due to suspected fentanyl-induced narcosis. Following immediate arousal, the patient vomited and suddenly developed symptoms and radiographic changes consistent with pulmonary oedema. General anaesthesia was reinduced and 1 mg/kg furosemide was administered intravenously. IPPV was started with application of positive end expiratory pressure in an air/oxygen mixture for 60 minutes. Recovery was uneventful. This is the first report of a dog developing pulmonary oedema following intravenous naloxone.