Resumen de Effects of a medetomidine-ketamine combination on Schirmer tear test I results of clinically normal cats
Simona Di Pietro, Francesco Macrì, Tiziana Bonarrigo, Elisabetta Giudice, Angelo Domenico Palumbo, Antonio Pugliese
Effects of a medetomidine-ketamine combination on Schirmer tear test I results of clinically normal cats Simona Di Pietro, DVM, PhD; Francesco Macrì, DVM; Tiziana Bonarrigo, DVM, PhD; Elisabetta Giudice, DVM, PhD; Angela Palumbo Piccionello, DVM, PhD; Antonio Pugliese, DVM Department of Veterinary Science, University of Messina, Polo Universitario Annunziata 98168 Messina, Italy. (Di Pietro, Macrì, Bonarrigo, Giudice, Pugliese); School of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 93-95, 62024 Matelica, Macerata, Italy. (Palumbo Piccionello) Dr. Giudice's present address is Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, University of Messina, Viale F. Stagno d'Alcontres 31, 98158 Messina, Italy.
Dr. Palumbo Piccionello's present address is School of Veterinary Medical Sciences, University of Camerino, Via Circonvallazione 93-95, 62024 Matelica, Macerata, Italy.
Address correspondence to Dr. Palumbo Piccionello (angela.palumbo@unicam.it).
OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effects of a medetomidine-ketamine combination on tear production of clinically normal cats by use of the Schirmer tear test (STT) 1 before and during anesthesia and after reversal of medetomidine with atipamezole.
ANIMALS 40 client-owned crossbred domestic shorthair cats (23 males and 17 females; age range, 6 to 24 months).
PROCEDURES A complete physical examination, CBC, and ophthalmic examination were performed on each cat. Cats with no abnormalities on physical and ophthalmic examinations were included in the study. Cats were allocated into 2 groups: a control group (n = 10 cats) anesthetized by administration of a combination of medetomidine hydrochloride (80 μg/kg) and ketamine hydrochloride (5 mg/kg), and an experimental group (30) anesthetized with the medetomidine-ketamine combination and reversal by administration of atipamezole. Tear production of both eyes of each cat was measured by use of the STT I before anesthesia, 15 minutes after the beginning of anesthesia, and 15 minutes after administration of atipamezole.
RESULTS Anesthesia with a medetomidine-ketamine combination of cats with no ophthalmic disease caused a significant decrease in tear production. The STT I values returned nearly to preanesthetic values within 15 minutes after reversal with atipamezole, whereas the STT I values for the control group were still low at that point.
CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results indicated that a tear substitute should be administered to eyes of cats anesthetized with a medetomidine-ketamine combination from the time of anesthetic administration until at least 15 minutes after administration of atipamezole.
