The analgesic and sedative effects of GV20 pharmacopuncture with low-dose hydromorphone in healthy dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy

• Published in: Canadian veterinary journal 2021-10, Vol.62 (10), p.1104-1110
• Main Authors: Scallan, Elizabeth M, Eckman, Stacy L, Coursey, Caleb D, Ikels, Kristine C, Simon, Bradley T
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acupuncture; Analgesics; Animals; Dog Diseases; Dogs; Female; Hydromorphone; Hypnotics and Sedatives; Hysterectomy - veterinary; Ovariectomy - veterinary; Pain, Postoperative - drug therapy; Pain, Postoperative - prevention & control; Pain, Postoperative - veterinary; Prospective Studies; Scientific
• ISSN: 0008-5286

This study evaluates the analgesic efficacy of low-dose hydromorphone administered pharmacopuncture at Governing Vessel 20 (GV20) for postoperative pain management following canine ovariohysterectomy. Fifty clinically healthy female dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy were allocated to receive hydromorphone [0.1 mg/kg body weight (BW)] intramuscularly (IM, = 25) or hydromorphone (0.01 mg/kg BW) pharmacopuncture at GV20 (GV, = 25) following extubation. This was a prospective, blinded, randomized clinical trial. Pain and sedation scores were evaluated using the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale Short Form (CMPS-SF) at 1, 2, 3, 4, and 12 hours following study treatment. Time of treatment failure (CMPS-SF ≥ 6/24) was recorded and analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. Patient demographics and duration of surgery and anesthesia were analyzed using the appropriate unpaired Student's -test. The Glasgow CMPS-SF and sedation score were analyzed using a repeated measures 2-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Bonferroni post-test where appropriate. Significance was set a < 0.05. There were no significant differences in patient demographics, anesthesia and surgery duration, and study treatment failure. The Glasgow CMPS-SF scores were significantly higher for IM compared with GV [2 (0 to 8) 1 (0 to 6), respectively; = 0.044] at 4 hours. Sedation scores were significantly higher for IM compared with GV at 2 [2 (1 to 3) and 1 (1 to 3), respectively; = 0.0004] and 4 [1 (1 to 3) and 1 (1 to 2), respectively; = 0.03] hours. Pharmacopuncture with low-dose hydromorphone provided adequate postoperative analgesia in dogs undergoing ovariohysterectomy with reduced sedative effects. Pharmacopuncture is a good alternative in dogs when reduced dosing of opioids is recommended.