Efeitos cardiovasculares e comportamentais da dexmedetomidina isolada ou associada à gabapentina em gatos saudáveis

Abstract

Stress in cats is a critical factor in clinical settings, as it can compromise diagnostic accuracy. Therefore, anesthetic protocols that optimize drug doses while balancing their effects are essential to minimize complications. Dexmedetomidine is widely used for feline sedation but may cause bradycardia and blood pressure alterations. Gabapentin is employed as an anxiolytic, aiding in clinical management without significant hemodynamic impact. This study evaluated the sedative and cardiovascular effects of this drug combination in female cats. A total of 52 cats were divided into two groups, receiving either gabapentin (100 mg/cat orally) or a placebo. After 90 minutes, physiological parameters, sedation and stress scores, and echocardiographic assessments were recorded. Evaluation time points included M0 (baseline premedication assessment), M1 (90 minutes post-gabapentin/placebo administration), and M2 (30 minutes post-dexmedetomidine administration). Subsequently, the groups were subdivided to receive either a low or high dose of dexmedetomidine. Data analysis was performed using ANOVA for parametric data, followed by Holm post hoc tests. Significance was set at p < 0.05. The results demonstrated that gabapentin did not enhance dexmedetomidine-induced sedation or reduce stress, as indicated by similar CSS and FMSS scores across groups. However, the combination of gabapentin with a high dose of dexmedetomidine resulted in a higher incidence of valvular regurgitation, predominantly mitral and tricuspid, along with a greater reduction in heart rate. Echocardiographic evaluation revealed a significant increase in ejection time and a decrease in cardiac output in some groups, although no overall differences were observed between protocols. These findings suggest that gabapentin may influence cardiovascular parameters without enhancing sedation, highlighting the need for further investigations to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and their clinical relevance in veterinary anesthesia.