Opioid requirements after locoregional anaesthesia in dogs undergoing tibial plateau levelling osteotomy: a pilot study

ObjectiveTo determine the intraoperative and early postoperative opioid requirement after ultrasound-guided sciatic and/or femoral nerve block or epidural anaesthesia in dogs undergoing tibial plateau levelling osteotomy (TPLO).Study designProspective, masked, pilot, randomized, clinical trial.AnimalsA total of 40 client-owned TPLO.MethodsEach dog was randomly assigned to group SF (combined block), S (sciatic F (femoral block) E (epidural anaesthesia). A 0.3 mL kg–1 ropivacaine 0.5% administered each space. Intraoperatively, fentanyl (2 μg kg–1) intravenously when heart rate, mean arterial pressure respiratory rate increased by >30% compared with baseline values. Postoperatively, a visual analogue scale (VAS) modified German version French pain (4AVet) were used assess every 30 minutes for 150 again once morning surgery. Methadone (0.1 mg if VAS ≥ 4 cm [maximal value 10 cm; median (interquartile range)] composite score ≥5 15; range)]. Significance defined as p ≤ 0.05.ResultsGroups required less doses groups (p = 0.031). No had failure methadone. reduced methadone found all other up recovery 0.041).Conclusions relevanceCombined lead cumulative consumption perioperative opioids than single blockade. Sciatic alone might be insufficient control nociception TPLO.