Assessment of buprenorphine, carprofen, and their combination for postoperative analgesia in olive baboons (Papio anubis)

Abstract

This study compared the efficacy of buprenorphine, carprofen, and a combination of the 2 analgesics in female baboons. Physiologic and behavioral parameters were assessed at baseline and postoperatively for 6 d by use of continuous noninvasive physiologic monitoring and twice-daily videotaping. Prior to surgery, all animals received a pre-emptive dose of either 0.01 mg/kg buprenorphine intramuscularly, 2.2 mg/kg carprofen intramuscularly, or a combination of 0.01 mg/kg buprenorphine and 2.2 mg/kg carprofen intramuscularly. All animals in the carprofen (n = 4) and buprenorphine+carprofen (n = 4) treatment groups appeared to have sufficient analgesia. Three of 4 animals in the buprenorphine group had adequate analgesia. The fourth animal had an elevated heart rate and spent less time standing during the postoperative period. In this study, the use of carprofen or a combination of carprofen plus buprenorphine provided more reliable postoperative analgesia than buprenorphine alone.

Figure 1

Heart rate (beats per minute, bpm) in (A) buprenorphine, (B) carprofen, and (C) buprenorphine+carprofen treatment groups of female olive baboons (n = 4 per group) during postoperative and baseline conditions. Drugs were administered on days 1 through 3 but not on days 4 through 6. Whole numbers refer to daytime hours; half-numbers refer to nighttime hours. Data are presented as mean ± standard error. Postoperative and baseline heart rates were increased during daylight hours (P < 0.0001).

Figure 2

Body temperature (°C) in (A) buprenorphine, (B) carprofen, and (C) buprenorphine+carprofen treatment groups of female olive baboons (n = 4 per group) during postoperative and baseline conditions. Drugs were administered on days 1 through 3 but not on days 4 through 6. Whole numbers refer to daytime hours; half-numbers refer to nighttime hours. Data are presented as mean ± standard error. Postoperative and baseline body temperature were increased during daylight hours (P < 0.0001). [1]

Figure 3

Urine cortisol levels (ng/mg creatinine) in female olive baboons receiving buprenorphine, carprofen, and buprenorphine+carprofen. Baboons monitored the day of surgery (day 0) through day 7 demonstrated significant (P = 0.0223) increases in urine cortisol on day 1 as compared with days 0 and 2 through 7.

Figure 4

Standing in (A) buprenorphine, (B) carprofen, and (C) buprenorphine+carprofen treatment groups of female olive baboons (n = 4 per group) during postoperative and baseline conditions. Drugs were administered on days 1 through 3 but not on days 4 through 6. Whole numbers refer to period of maximal analgesia; half-numbers refer to period of minimal analgesia. Data are presented as mean ± standard error. Standing was increased during the baseline condition as compared with the postoperative condition (P = 0.0179). Postoperative standing in the buprenorphine group was increased on days 2 (P = 0.0244) and 3 (P = 0.0036) as compared with day 4.

Figure 5

Checking in (A) buprenorphine, (B) carprofen, and (C) buprenorphine+carprofen treatment groups of female olive baboons (n = 4 per group) during postoperative and baseline conditions. Drugs were administered on days 1 through 3 but not on days 4 through 6. Whole numbers refer to period of maximal analgesia; half-numbers refer to period of minimal analgesia. Data are presented as mean ± standard error. Checking was increased during the baseline condition as compared with the postoperative condition (P = 0.096). Postoperative checking was increased during days 1 through 3 as compared with days 4 through 6 (P = 0.0209).