Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia
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To determine the needle-to-nerve distances during electrical nerve location in dogs at different currents and pulse duration using a peripheral nerve stimulator (PNS) under ultrasound control (US), and the minimal electrical thresholds (MET) necessary to obtain a motor response (MR) after achieving needle-to-nerve contact. ⋯ The electrical current necessary to obtain a MR decreased as the needle moved towards the nerve. However when the needle tip contacted the nerve, an MR with low current intensity could not be obtained. Thus the absence of motor response at currents below 0.3 mA cannot rule out needle-epineurium contact. When ultrasound is combined with PNS, it is more important to assess the correct needle position than searching for an MR at low currents.
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Case Reports
Neuraxial morphine induced pruritus in two cats and treatment with sub anaesthetic doses of propofol.
Two cats were presented for orthopaedic surgery. ⋯ This is the first clinical report of morphine-induced pruritus in cats and management with low-dose propofol. These cases suggest an antipruritic mechanism for lipid-formulation propofol.
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To evaluate the accuracy of epidural catheter placement at different levels of the spinal cord guided solely by electrical nerve stimulation and resultant segmental muscle contraction. ⋯ Placement of an epidural catheter at specific spinal levels using electrical nerve stimulation was feasible without radiographic assistance in dogs. Two vertebral bodies difference from the target site may be clinically acceptable when performing segmental epidural regional anesthesia.
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A comparison of epidural analgesia provided by bupivacaine alone, bupivacaine + morphine, or bupivacaine + dexmedetomidine for pelvic orthopedic surgery in dogs.
To compare the analgesic efficacy of bupivacaine, bupivacaine + morphine, or bupivacaine + dexmedetomidine administered epidurally in dogs undergoing pelvic limb orthopedic surgery. ⋯ Epidurally administered B, B + M, or B + D in dogs all provided acceptable analgesia to manage post-operative orthopedic pelvic limb pain. Epidural administration of B + D is an effective alternative to the analgesia provided by B or B + M, but is associated with increased time to return of motor function. The direct neurotoxic effects of epidural dexmedetomidine have not been fully tested.
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To compare acid-base balance and incidence of hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis following administration of three crystalloid solutions to dogs undergoing anaesthesia for orthopaedic surgery. ⋯ Hyperchloraemic metabolic acidosis did not develop after intraoperative 0.9% saline, Hartmann's solution or maintenance solution at 10 mL kg(-1) hour(-1) for 2 hours in dogs undergoing elective orthopaedic surgery. Bicarbonate and BE increased after Hartmann's and maintenance solutions. Increases in potassium concentration were unexplained.