Effects of Electro-acupuncture on Shelter Cat Anesthesia Recovery from Ovariohysterectomy: A Randomized and Controlled Clinical Study

Item

Title

Description

Am J Trad Chin Vet Med (2023), Ingerson, DJ.

Journal Publication

American Journal of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine

issn

1945-7677 (linking); 1945-7693 (online)

Date

2023

Language

English

Author(s)

Ingerson, Darla Jo

Subject

Cats

Electroacupuncture

Randomized Controlled Trial

Hysterectomy

Surgical Procedures

Medicine, Chinese Traditional

Veterinary Medicine

Abstract

Spay-neuter programs are crucial to effective community management of unowned animals but face challenges of limited funding and personnel. Identification of cost-effective sterilization protocols while providing comparable quality veterinary care is needed. The objective of the current study was to investigate the effects of atipamezole dose reduction with or without electro-acupuncture (EAP) for comparable anesthetic recovery to a higher dose of atipamezole (greater program cost) following ovariohysterectomy (OHE). A total of 56 shelter cats were enrolled and randomized into 4 anesthetic recovery treatment groups: Group A (control) was treated with 10mcg/kg intramuscular (IM) atipamezole; Group B was treated with 5mcg/kg IM atipamezole + EAP; Group C was treated with EAP only; and Group D was treated with 5mcg/kg IM atipamezole. Recovery time was recorded from post-surgery treatment to first observation of 1) voluntary movement, 2) swallow reflex, 3) head lifting and 4) ambulation. Study results found that anesthesia recovery for patients using EAP only (Group C) had a significantly longer duration than all other groups (p < 0.001). Groups B and D (low dose atipamezole with or without EAP) were not significantly different from each other or the high dose animals (Group A). Group B recovery (with EAP), however, was nonsignificantly shorter for all 4 outcome measures when compared to Group D (without EAP). Clinical relevance of study findings suggests 5mcg/kg atipamezole provides an equally effective recovery from general anesthesia when compared to 10mcg/kg for shelter animals undergoing OHE.