Transverse abdominis plane injection of bupivacaine with dexmedetomidine or a bupivacaine liposomal suspension yielded lower pain scores and requirement for rescue analgesia in a controlled, randomized trial in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the duration and analgesic quality of bupivacaine mixed with dexmedetomidine (BUP-DEX) or bupivacaine liposome suspension (BLS) administered as a transverse abdominis plane (TAP) block, compared with a negative control (no TAP block; CTRL) in dogs. ANIMALS: 26 mixed-breed shelter dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy between January 28 and December 8, 2020. PROCEDURES: Each dog was randomly assigned to receive either an ultrasound-guided TAP block with either BUP-DEX or BLS or to receive no TAP block at time 0 after induction of general anesthesia. Superficial and abdominal wall pain scores were evaluated before time 0 and at 4, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours later. Additionally, sedation scores and time to return of various behaviors, such as eating or drinking, were compared. RESULTS: The CTRL group had significantly greater pain scores than the BUP-DEX and BLS groups, but no differences were found between the BUP-DEX and BLS groups. Postoperatively, significantly more dogs needed rescue analgesia and the time to need it was shorter for the CTRL group, compared with the BUP-DEX or BLS groups. Additionally, the CTRL group had greater sedation scores than the other 2 groups. No significant differences were observed in any of the evaluated outcome variables such as eating or drinking. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A TAP block appeared to provide adequate postoperative analgesia for abdominal surgery in the dogs of the present study undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy. The BLS TAP block did not appear to provide any extra benefit beyond what BUP-DEX TAP block added under these specific conditions.

Analysis of patient outcome and owner satisfaction with double limb amputations: 14 dogs and four cats.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the indications for, complications of, and surgical outcomes of dogs and cats that were treated with double limb amputations. ANIMALS: 14 dogs and 4 cats that underwent double limb amputations. PROCEDURES: Data collected retrospectively included patient-specific (species, age, weight, breed, sex, existing comorbidities) and amputation-specific (indication for amputation, full or partial limb amputation, associated complications, need for revision surgeries) variables. Owner satisfaction scores were also collected. RESULTS: The most common indication for double amputations was trauma (12/18) patients. Eleven patients had both amputations performed simultaneously. Nine patients had double partial limb amputations versus full limb amputations. Twelve patients underwent bilateral pelvic limb amputations, 4 underwent bilateral thoracic limb amputations, and 2 had 1 pelvic and 1 contralateral thoracic limb amputated. Five patients had reported complications over the course of the follow-up period, and complications for 3 patients were considered major. Revision surgery was reported for 2 animals. Owner satisfaction scores were reported as very satisfied/excellent (14/18), mildly satisfied (3/18), and strongly dissatisfied (1/18). Median time to follow-up was 450 days (range, 85 to 4,380 days). CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Double limb amputation may be a viable alternative to advanced limb-sparing procedures or humane euthanasia based on the owner satisfaction data and the relatively low rate of major complications in this study. Future studies should clarify patient selection criteria and differences in function between surgical types.