Perioperative analgesic efficacy of constant rate infused tramadol hydrochloride as an adjunct to postoperative ketoprofen in ovariohysterectomized bitches

The study evaluated the peri-operative analgesic efficacy of tramadol administered by constant rate infusion as an adjunct to ketoprofen in ovariohysterectomized bitches. Pre- and postoperative assessment of pain was made using physiologic parameters, glucose, cortisol, pain score and body weight. Dogs were randomly assigned to one of three groups using the protocol: 1.0mg/kg/hr, 2.0mg/kg/hr of CRI tramadol and control. Ketoprofen (5mg/kg, SC) was administered at one, twenty-four and seventy-two hours post-OVH to all the dogs. Mean glucose and cortisol levels of group 3 dogs were at intra- and at one-hour post-OVH higher (p<0.05) than those of groups 1 and 2. Mean pain score of group 3 was significantly higher (p<0.05) than those of groups 1 and 2 at one, four, twenty-four and seventy-two hours post-OVH. The use of CRI tramadol at doses of 1.0mg/kg/hr and 2.0mg/kg/hr attenuated rise in pain markers and produced balanced analgesia as an adjunct to ketoprofen.