Effects of the use of subdoses of dexmedetomidine administered intravenously or at the Yin Tang acupoint on propofol dosage for sedation during urethral obstruction relief in felines

Abstract

Abstract. Domestic cats present physiological and behavioral particularities that necessitate more in-depth studies regarding the drugs used in sedation and anesthesia protocols. In this context, the aim of the present study is to evaluate the propofol requirement after the administration of dexmedetomidine, via intravenous and at the Yin Tang acupuncture point, in cats undergoing urethral obstruction relief. For this, 20 male cats with variable weights, from the routine of the Veterinary Hospital of the Federal University of Mato Grosso (HOVET – UFMT), were used. After a diagnosis of urethral obstruction and recommendation of a sedation procedure for the relief, the animals were randomly assigned into two groups, each containing 10 animals: the Intravenous Group (IV), where the animals received dexmedetomidine at a dose of 1 mcg/kg intravenously; and the Yin Tang Group (YT), where the same dose as the previous group was administered subcutaneously at the Yin Tang acupuncture point, located on the midline of the ventral surface between the eyebrows. To enhance sedation, propofol was administered, and the quality of the anesthetic induction was evaluated. Later, the final volume in milliliters (mL) of propofol was recorded for further evaluation and comparison between the groups. As analgesic supplementation, after sedation evaluation, tramadol was administered at a dose of 2 mg/kg to allow the obstruction relief. Physiological parameters were monitored throughout the procedure until complete patient recovery, and the stability of the analyzed parameters was observed. A statistical difference was observed between the IV and YT groups, respectively, 2.45 ± 1.02 and 4.41 ± 2.20, for the dose (mg/kg) of propofol, as well as in the induction time and sedation quality. Therefore, dexmedetomidine administered intravenously promoted a greater reduction in the propofol dose compared to its administration at the Yin Tang acupuncture point. However, this latter approach can still be considered an alternative in multimodal protocols, especially in more sensitive patients or when a less invasive approach is desired.