Polyzois G. DVM, MSc, Freelancer, Veterinary Imaging Center Alphavet, Kifisia, Greece | Kazakos G. DVM, PhD, Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Professor, Companion Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece | Anagnostou T. DVM, PhD, DipECVAA, Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Associate Professor, Companion Animal Clinic, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Introduction
Surgical interventions on the front or hind limbs of companion animals, whether orthopedic or soft tissue procedures, cause severe perioperative pain, which is mainly managed with the administration of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, opioids and α2-agonists. The study aims to investigate whether the administration of regional anaesthesia with a nerve locator, in surgeries on the forelimb or the hindlimb, contributes to maintaining the stability of the patient's heart and respiratory rates intraoperatively.
Materials and methods
This retrospective study included 28 dogs that underwent regional anaesthesia with a nerve locator and 28 that were not administered regional anaesthesia. Intraoperatively, dogs in which heart rate increased ≥20% of baseline at least at 3 time points were considered not to have heart rate stability, whereas dogs in which respiratory rate increased ≥20% of baseline at least at 3 time points were considered not to have respiratory rate stability.
Results
89.3% of dogs that received regional anaesthesia were stable in terms of heart rate and respiratory rate, while the dogs that did not receive regional anaesthesia were 92.9% unstable concerning the heart rate and 50% unstable concerning the respiratory rate. The variation in the drugs administered for premedication did not seem to statistically affect heart rate or respiratory rate stability.
Conclusions
Administration of regional anaesthesia using a nerve locator contributes to the stability of the cardiovascular and respiratory rate intraoperatively in dogs undergoing surgical interventions in the limbs.
