Assessment of the influence of surgical technique on postoperative pain and wound tenderness in cats following ovariohysterectomy

Grint, N. J., Murison, P. J. , Coe, R. J. and Pearson, A. E. W. (2006) Assessment of the influence of surgical technique on postoperative pain and wound tenderness in cats following ovariohysterectomy. Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery, 8(1), pp. 15-21. (doi: 10.1016/j.jfms.2005.06.002) (PMID:16213762)

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Abstract

Elective ovariohysterectomy was performed on 66 cats. Surgical approach was flank (group F) or midline (group M) allocated by block randomisation. Pre-anaesthetic medication was acepromazine (0.1 mg/kg) via intramuscular injection. Anaesthesia was induced with intravenous thiopentone, and maintained with halothane in 100% oxygen. Carprofen (4 mg/kg) was administered by the subcutaneous route immediately after induction of anaesthesia. Postoperative pain and wound tenderness were assessed at 1, 3, 6, 9, 11-12 and 20-24h after the end of surgery, and the assessment outcome marked on visual analogue scales (VAS). Intervention analgesia (if pain VAS was >40 mm) was pethidine 4 mg/kg via intramuscular injection. Area under the curve (AUC) for VAS for pain and VAS for wound tenderness for each cat were calculated. AUC for wound tenderness was significantly greater for group F (P = 0.007). There was no significant difference for AUC for pain between the groups. In conclusion, wounds after flank ovariohysterectomy are significantly more tender than after midline ovariohysterectomy in the cat. This indicates that interactive methods, including wound palpation, must be used to assess postoperative pain and the findings should be appropriately weighted in the overall assessment.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Murison, Professor Pamela
Authors: Grint, N. J., Murison, P. J., Coe, R. J., and Pearson, A. E. W.
College/School:College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Biodiversity, One Health & Veterinary Medicine
Journal Name:Journal of Feline Medicine and Surgery
Publisher:Elsevier
ISSN:1098-612X
ISSN (Online):1532-2750
Published Online:05 October 2005

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