This study assessed the GABAA receptor antagonist flumazenil and its effect on the anesthetic activity of the GABAA receptor modulator and anesthetic, alfaxalone, when administered intravenously in healthy cats.
Methods: Eight (6M/2F), adult, neutered cats 4.5-7.0 kg in body weight were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, blinded, cross-over study. Prior to treatment, cats were randomly assigned one of two treatments: flumazenil (FLU) or saline (SAL). For period two, cats were administered the opposite treatment. Treatment was either 0.1 mg kg-1 flumazenil or an equal volume of 0.9% sodium chloride. Prior to treatment, a published, abbreviated alfaxalone anesthetic protocol was administered consisting of an intravenous induction dose of 2 mg kg-1 over one minute, followed by a two-step intravenous infusion of 0.4 mg kg-1 min-1 for 10 minutes, then 0.3 mg kg min-1 for 30 minutes. Physiologic parameters, time to lateral recumbency, time to sternal recumbency, duration of anesthesia, time to standing, quality of induction and maintenance of anesthesia, and quality of recovery were assessed. Data across time and continuous were analyzed by repeated-measures ANCOVA. Single time-point data, continuous in nature, were analyzed by ANOVA. Categorical data associated with the quality of recovery were analyzed using a GLMM model. Alpha equaled 0.05.
