Brachial plexus blockade in chickens with 0.75% ropivacaine.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the quality of brachial plexus blockade with 0.75% ropivacaine in domestic chickens. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective experimental trial. ANIMALS: Six 30-week-old female chickens, weighing 4.5 +/- 0.4 kg. METHODS: Six brachial plexus injections were performed after anesthetic induction with isoflurane. After achieving adequate muscle relaxation, the animals were positioned in dorsal recumbency and injected with ropivacaine (1 mL kg(-1)). The birds recovered and assessments of motor function and response to pinch were scored every 5 minutes for 180 minutes. The scores were from zero (no response) to three (greatest response). The scores over time were analyzed using a Wilcoxon nonparametric test with statistical significance accepted if p 0.05). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: No complications were observed after the technique. Brachial plexus blockade with 0.75% ropivacaine is a simple and effective technique for procedures on the thoracic limb of domestic chickens.