Effect of Alfaxalone and Acepromazine on Feline Echocardiography

Abstract

In veterinary practice, sedation is frequently used to handle aggressive cats, to reduce patient stress, and to secure the safety of both humans and cats. Alfaxalone is a relatively new anesthetic drug. Intramuscular injection is available for the sedation of cats with minimal cardiovascular effects, although adverse effects have been reported in recovery. This study investigated the effects of alfaxalone (ALF), acepromazine (ACE) and an alfaxalone-acepromazine combination (AA) on echocardiographic, biochemical and blood gas indices and recovery in cats. Seven healthy adult cats were enrolled in this study. Baseline systolic arterial blood pressure (SAP) and body temperature measurement, echocardiography and blood sampling were conducted. One of the three treatments (ALF, ACE, AA) was administered intramuscularly to each cat. Echocardiography was performed, followed by SAP, body temperature measurements and blood sampling. The duration of sedation and quality of recovery were assessed. In comparison to baseline an increase in heart rate (HR) occurred after ACE. All groups showed a decrease in SAP. A decrease in left ventricular internal dimension in diastole (LVDd), end-diastolic volume of left ventricule (EDV), stroke volume (SV) and left atrial dimension (LA) after AA were identified. There was no statistically significant change in echocardiographic variables after ALF. Echocardiographic values did not significantly differ among the treatments. Biochemical and blood gas analysis showed no clinically significant changes except hematocrit (Hct) after ACE and AA. As both treatments including acepromazine, ACE and AA produced alterations of echocardiographic variables, this effect must be considered when interpreting echocardiographic data or choosing a sedative for echocardiographiy in cats. In spite of wide individual variations in recovery, changes in echocardiographic, biochemical and blood gas variables were not significant following treatment by alfaxalone alone, suggesting that alfaxalone could be one of the most useful sedative for echocardiography in cats.