Anesthesia and Pain Management in Veterinary Surgery

A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381). This special issue belongs to the section "Veterinary Surgery".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 May 2024) | Viewed by 11118

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Rossdales Equine Hospital, Newmarket CB8 7NN, UK
Interests: veterinary medicine; equine science; regenerative medicine; ventilation; animal welfare; anesthesia; intensive care; pain management

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Rossdales Equine Hospital, Newmarket CB8 7NN, UK
Interests: veterinary medicine; equine science; intensive care; neonatology; pain management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Surgical procedures in a variety of animal species require different suitable anaesthesia and analgesia protocols. This includes established, well-known protocols as well as advanced techniques and new drug combinations. In most circumstances, there will be more than one suitable protocol, depending, for instance, on the patient, skill level and availability. Reporting and comparison of characteristics and side effects of different anaesthesia protocols will enable the anaesthetist to choose a protocol based on the respective circumstances. This also includes considerations to perioperative pain management for sufficient analgesia, which could be achieved by multimodal analgesia protocols and locoregional analgesia techniques.

We invite the submission of original research papers, case reports and review papers relating to the management of anaesthesia or sedation in veterinary patients and experimental research animals undergoing surgery. In addition, topics may include perioperative pain management of animals to enable adequate analgesia during surgery.

Dr. Claudia Gittel
Guest Editor

Catriona J. Mackenzie
Guest Editor Assistant

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Keywords

  • anaesthesia
  • sedation
  • balanced anaesthesia
  • perioperative analgesia
  • animals
  • multimodal analgesia
  • inhalant
  • TIVA
  • monitoring
  • experimental animals

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

13 pages, 703 KiB  
Article
Does Catheter Insertion Site Matter? Contamination of Peripheral Intravenous Catheters during Dental Scaling in Dogs
by Ivana Calice, Panagiotis Ballas, Claus Vogl, Sandra Purwin, Monika Ehling-Schulz and Attilio Rocchi
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(9), 407; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11090407 - 3 Sep 2024
Viewed by 783
Abstract
During dental scaling in dogs under general anaesthesia, contamination of the peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) is unavoidable due to splatter and the generated aerosol. Bacterial contamination was compared between two commonly used PIVC placement sites. Thirty-nine client-owned dogs with a minimum length from [...] Read more.
During dental scaling in dogs under general anaesthesia, contamination of the peripheral intravenous catheter (PIVC) is unavoidable due to splatter and the generated aerosol. Bacterial contamination was compared between two commonly used PIVC placement sites. Thirty-nine client-owned dogs with a minimum length from their nose to their tail base of 50 cm were randomly assigned to receive a PIVC in either their cephalic or saphenous vein. Irrespective of the PIVC placement site, brain heart infusion agar dishes were placed in the cephalic and saphenous vein areas. Their lids were closed 0, 5, and 10 min into the procedure. Contamination was measured by counting the colony-forming units after incubation on different substrates. The data were analysed with descriptive statistics, ANOVA, and ANCOVA (p < 0.05). The cephalic vein area showed a significantly higher bacterial load than the saphenous vein area (p ≈ 0.0) regardless of the length of the dog. Furthermore, the dorsal PIVC injection ports were sampled before and after scaling, and the colonies isolated were counted and subjected to MALDI-TOF-MS for identification. The bacteria mainly belonged to the genera Staphylococcus, Neisseria, and Bacillus. Our results suggest that for dental scaling in dogs, the PIVC should be placed in the pelvic limb whenever possible to reduce the potential risk of contamination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anesthesia and Pain Management in Veterinary Surgery)
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11 pages, 257 KiB  
Article
Comparison between Carprofen and Meloxicam for Post-Neutering Pain Management in Pet Rabbits
by Matteo Serpieri, Chiara Ottino, Giuseppe Bonaffini, Penelope Banchi, Giuseppe Quaranta and Mitzy Mauthe von Degerfeld
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(6), 257; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11060257 - 5 Jun 2024
Viewed by 1487
Abstract
Surgical neutering in pet rabbits is common practice to prevent reproduction and associated health issues. Adequate postoperative pain management is crucial for recovery, yet effective methods in clinical settings remain underexplored. This study compared the analgesic effects of carprofen and meloxicam in pet [...] Read more.
Surgical neutering in pet rabbits is common practice to prevent reproduction and associated health issues. Adequate postoperative pain management is crucial for recovery, yet effective methods in clinical settings remain underexplored. This study compared the analgesic effects of carprofen and meloxicam in pet rabbits undergoing surgical neutering. Fifty rabbits of varied demographics were included, with pain assessed using the Centro Animali Non Convenzionali Rabbit Scale (CANCRS). Rabbits were allocated to receive postoperative 2 mg kg−1 carprofen or 1 mg kg−1 meloxicam by subcutaneous injection. Anesthesia was induced with an intramuscular combination of ketamine (20 mg kg−1), medetomidine (0.4 mg kg−1), and butorphanol (0.2 mg kg−1), and ovariectomy or orchiectomy were performed. The CANCRS scale was used to assess pain by evaluating the rabbit preoperatively, 6 h postoperatively, and at three time points the following day. Times of return to spontaneous feeding and fecal production were also recorded. No statistically significant difference was found between treatment groups based on CANCRS scores and resumption of food intake and fecal output. No clinically detectable adverse effects were noted. While limitations include the use of a single pain assessment scale and the absence of a placebo control group, the results suggest that both carprofen and meloxicam can be viable options in clinical practice. Further research utilizing diverse pain assessment methods is warranted to enhance understanding and optimize pain management strategies for rabbits undergoing surgical procedures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anesthesia and Pain Management in Veterinary Surgery)
13 pages, 245 KiB  
Article
Evaluating the Efficacy of a Peripheral Nerve Simulator-Guided Brachial Plexus Block in Rabbits Undergoing Orthopaedic Surgery Compared to Systemic Analgesia
by Sophie A. Mead, Matthew J. Allen, Sara Ahmed Hassouna Elsayed and Claudia S. Gittel
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(5), 213; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11050213 - 13 May 2024
Viewed by 1411
Abstract
Locoregional anaesthetic techniques are invaluable for providing multimodal analgesia for painful surgical procedures. This prospective, randomised study describes a nerve stimulator-guided brachial plexus blockade (BPB) in rabbits undergoing orthopaedic surgery in comparison to systemic lidocaine. Premedication was provided with intramuscular (IM) medetomidine, fentanyl, [...] Read more.
Locoregional anaesthetic techniques are invaluable for providing multimodal analgesia for painful surgical procedures. This prospective, randomised study describes a nerve stimulator-guided brachial plexus blockade (BPB) in rabbits undergoing orthopaedic surgery in comparison to systemic lidocaine. Premedication was provided with intramuscular (IM) medetomidine, fentanyl, and midazolam. Anaesthesia was induced (propofol IV) and maintained with isoflurane. Nine rabbits received a lidocaine BPB (2%; 0.3 mL kg−1), and eight received a lidocaine constant rate infusion (CRI) (2 mg kg−1 IV, followed by 100 µg kg−1 min−1). Rescue analgesia was provided with fentanyl IV. Carprofen was administered at the end of the surgery. Postoperative pain was determined using the Rabbit Grimace Scale (RGS) and a composite pain scale. Buprenorphine was administered according to the pain score for two hours after extubation. Rabbits were filmed during the first two hours to measure distance travelled and behaviours. Food intake and faeces output were compared. Every rabbit in CRI required intraoperative rescue analgesia compared to none in BPB. However, rabbits in both groups had similar pain scores, and there was no difference in the administration of postoperative analgesia. There were no significant differences in food intake or faeces production over 18 h, and no significant differences in distance travelled or behaviours examined during the first two hours. BPB seems superior for intraoperative analgesia. Postoperatively, both groups were comparable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anesthesia and Pain Management in Veterinary Surgery)
11 pages, 1186 KiB  
Article
The Performance of Using the Parasympathetic Tone Activity (PTA) Index to Assess Intraoperative Nociception in Cats
by Leonor Lima, José Diogo Dos-Santos, Lénio Ribeiro, Patrícia Cabral, Bruno Colaço and João Martins
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(3), 121; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11030121 - 6 Mar 2024
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1950
Abstract
Background: The monitoring of nociception/antinociception poses a significant challenge during anesthesia, making the incorporation of new tools like the Parasympathetic Tone Activity (PTA) monitor an added value in feline anesthesia. Objectives: To compare the effectiveness and speed of PTA monitoring when compared to [...] Read more.
Background: The monitoring of nociception/antinociception poses a significant challenge during anesthesia, making the incorporation of new tools like the Parasympathetic Tone Activity (PTA) monitor an added value in feline anesthesia. Objectives: To compare the effectiveness and speed of PTA monitoring when compared to heart rate (HR) in detecting surgical stimuli (SS) during the intraoperative period in 49 female cats undergoing ovariectomy (OV). Methods: Instantaneous Parasympathetic Tone Activity (PTAi) values, HR, fR, and non-invasive SAP and MAP were continuously monitored and systematically assessed. The time required for HR (HR time) and PTAi (PTAi time) to reach their minimum peak values following each surgical stimulus was collected at five points for each anaesthetized cat. Each collected surgical stimulus was categorized into 3 groups for statistical analysis: no nociception detection, no hemodynamic reaction and a PTAi > 50 (Nhre); no hemodynamic reaction and a PTAi < 50 (Nhre < 50); and hemodynamic reaction and PTAi < 50 (Hre < 50). Results: PTAi response demonstrated effectiveness in detecting nociception compared to HR. The SS were categorized as 36.1% in the Nhre group, 50% in the Nhre < 50 group, and only 13.9% in the Hre < 50 group. In the Hre < 50 group, PTAi time and HR time had similar speeds in detecting the SS (p = 0.821); however, PTA time was significantly slower in the Nhre < 50 group when compared to the Hre < 50 group (p = 0.001). Conclusions: PTA monitoring may be a useful tool to complement HR monitoring for detecting nociception. PTA monitoring demonstrated a superior diagnostic value compared to HR for detecting nociception in cats undergoing OV and a similar speed to HR in detecting SS when HR increases above 20%. Future studies are needed to understand in a clinical setting the meaning of sympathetic activation/nociception detected using the PTA monitor when the HR increase is not clinically relevant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anesthesia and Pain Management in Veterinary Surgery)
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9 pages, 2736 KiB  
Communication
Open Approach to the Transversus Abdominis Plane in Horses: A Cadaver Feasibility Study
by Maia R. Aitken, Dario A. Floriano and Klaus Hopster
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(1), 51; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11010051 - 22 Jan 2024
Viewed by 1757
Abstract
The study’s objective was to evaluate the feasibility and dispersion of an open approach to the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in eight adult equine cadavers. A ventral midline incision was made, starting 2 cm cranial to the umbilicus and extending 25 cm [...] Read more.
The study’s objective was to evaluate the feasibility and dispersion of an open approach to the transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in eight adult equine cadavers. A ventral midline incision was made, starting 2 cm cranial to the umbilicus and extending 25 cm cranially. In total, 0.5 mL/kg of new methylene blue (NMB) was injected per horse, divided into six injections. Using an 18 g, 8 cm Tuohy needle, three injections were made per side. The needle was guided blindly into the TAP using palpation. A 60 mL syringe was attached directly to the needle, depositing ~0.08 mL/kg at each site. The time to complete the injections was recorded for each cadaver. Following injection, the ventral body wall was dissected to determine if the dye was present within the TAP space as well as to measure the extent of the dispersion of the dye, the cranial to caudal extent, and the width of the dye’s spread. Complete deposition of NMB into the TAP (six of six sites) was achieved in 5/8 horses. The median time needed to perform all the injections was 263 s. Increased adiposity (retroperitoneal fat) was associated with unsuccessful injections. This approach to the TAP was easily and quickly performed, though less successful in horses with increased retroperitoneal fat and increased BCS. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anesthesia and Pain Management in Veterinary Surgery)
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11 pages, 1017 KiB  
Article
Comparison between Bilateral Ultrasound-Guided Quadratus Lumborum Block and Sacrococcygeal Epidural in Cats Undergoing Ovariectomy
by José Diogo dos-Santos, Mário Ginja, João Martins, Patrícia Cabral, Sofia Alves-Pimenta, Lénio Ribeiro, Pablo E. Otero and Bruno Colaço
Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(1), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11010025 - 8 Jan 2024
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2485
Abstract
Background: Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and sacrococcygeal epidural anaesthesia (ScE) have been used for neutering cats, providing effective pain relief. Objectives: To compare the effects of the QLB with those of ScE in cats undergoing ovariectomies. Methods: Feral cats undergoing ovariectomy were [...] Read more.
Background: Ultrasound-guided quadratus lumborum block (QLB) and sacrococcygeal epidural anaesthesia (ScE) have been used for neutering cats, providing effective pain relief. Objectives: To compare the effects of the QLB with those of ScE in cats undergoing ovariectomies. Methods: Feral cats undergoing ovariectomy were premedicated with dexmedetomidine (20 μg kg−1) and methadone (0.2 mg kg−1) intramuscularly. Anaesthesia was induced with 2–4 mg kg−1 of propofol intravenously and maintained with isoflurane in oxygen. The cats were randomly allocated to the groups QLB (bilateral QLB with 0.4 mL kg−1 of 0.25% bupivacaine) and ScE (0.3 mL kg−1 of 0.25% bupivacaine). Hemodynamic data and analgesia rescue were collected at four intraoperative periods. The pain scale and motor block were assessed in both groups during the postoperative period. Results: The ScE results in increased hypotension, prolonged extubation time, and higher postoperative motor block than the QLB (p < 0.05). The QLB and ScE groups required a similar number of intraoperative rescues and presented the same postoperative pain scale classification. Conclusions: The QLB with 0.25% bupivacaine is a potential alternative to ScE with 0.25% bupivacaine in perioperative pain management in elective cat ovariectomy. The QLB promoted less hypotension and postoperative motor block when compared with the ScE group. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Anesthesia and Pain Management in Veterinary Surgery)
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