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Botulinum toxin type A as an adjunct in postoperative pain management in dogs undergoing radical mastectomy
Author(s) -
Vilhegas S.,
Cassu R. N.,
Barbero R. C.,
Crociolli G. C.,
Rocha T. L. A.,
Gomes D. R.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
veterinary record
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.261
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 2042-7670
pISSN - 0042-4900
DOI - 10.1136/vr.102993
Subject(s) - medicine , anesthesia , acepromazine , visual analogue scale , analgesic , sedation , saline , propofol , radical mastectomy , surgery , pain scale , morphine , mastectomy , breast cancer , blood pressure , cancer , heart rate , radiology
The aim of this randomised placebo‐controlled, observer‐blinded study was to evaluate the analgesic effects of botulinum toxin type A (BoNT‐A) as an adjunct for postoperative pain control in dogs. Sixteen dogs undergoing bilateral radical mastectomy for treatment of mammary tumours were enrolled. Twenty‐four hours before surgery, the subjects were distributed into two groups of eight dogs each: 7 iu/kg BoNT‐A (BoNT‐A) or saline (Control) was administered subcutaneously in each mammary gland. Following sedation with intramuscular 0.03 mg/kg acepromazine and 0.3 mg/kg morphine, anaesthesia was induced intravenously with 4 mg/kg propofol and maintained with isoflurane/O 2 . Postoperative analgesia was evaluated for 72 hours after extubation using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) and modified Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (modified‐GCMPS). Rescue analgesia was provided with intramuscular morphine (0.5 mg/kg). Data were analysed using analysis of variance, Tukey's test, Mann‐Whitney U test and Friedman test (P<0.05). The pain scores were significantly lower in the BoNT‐A than in the Control from 8 hours to 60 hours and from 12 hours to 60 hours after extubation, based on the VAS and modified‐GCMPS, respectively. Rescue analgesia was required by significantly more dogs in the Control (7/8) compared with the BoNT‐A (2/8) (P=0.022). Pre‐emptive BoNT‐A appears to be effective as an adjuvant for postoperative pain management in dogs undergoing bilateral radical mastectomy.