Evaluation of signs of postoperative pain and complications after forelimb onychectomy in cats receiving buprenorphine alone or with bupivacaine administered as a four-point regional nerve block

• Published in: Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association Vol. 228; no. 1; pp. 65 - 68
• Main Authors: Curcio, K, Bidwell, L.A, Bohart, G.V, Hauptman, J.G
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 2006
• Subjects: analgesia; Analgesia - methods; Analgesia - veterinary; Analgesics, Opioid - pharmacology; Analgesics, Opioid - therapeutic use; Anesthetics, Local - pharmacology; Anesthetics, Local - therapeutic use; Animals; bupivacaine; Bupivacaine - pharmacology; Bupivacaine - therapeutic use; buprenorphine; Buprenorphine - pharmacology; Buprenorphine - therapeutic use; cats; Cats - surgery; Drug Therapy, Combination; Female; Forelimb; forelimbs; hemorrhage; Hoof and Claw - surgery; infection; Injections, Intramuscular - veterinary; lameness; Male; pain; Pain, Postoperative - drug therapy; Pain, Postoperative - epidemiology; Pain, Postoperative - veterinary; Postoperative Care - methods; Postoperative Care - veterinary; postoperative complications; Postoperative Complications - epidemiology; Postoperative Complications - veterinary; Prospective Studies; surgery; swelling (physiological); Time Factors; Treatment Outcome
• ISSN: 0003-1488; 1943-569X
• DOI: 10.2460/javma.228.1.65

Objective-To evaluate signs of postoperative pain and complications after forelimb onychectomy in cats receiving buprenorphine alone or with bupivacaine administered as a 4-point regional nerve block. Design-Prospective, randomized, double-blind clinical trial. Animals-20 cats. Procedure-All cats received buprenorphine (0.01 mg/kg 0.004 mg/lb, IM) preoperatively. One forelimb of each cat also received bupivacaine (1 mg/kg 0.45 mg/lb of a 0.75% solution) administered as a 4-point regional nerve block. After onychectomy, discomfort (lameness, foot reaction, and pain) scores were evaluated by 2 experienced observers 2, 4, 6, 8, 24, and 168 hours postoperatively. Complication (hemorrhage, swelling, and infection) scores were evaluated 24 and 168 hours postoperatively. Surgeries were performed by 1 experienced veterinary surgeon. Rescue analgesia was provided if needed. Results-6 cats required rescue analgesia postoperatively. There was no difference in discomfort or complication scores between control limbs and limbs in which a nerve block was administered. Additionally, there was no difference in discomfort and complication scores between cats that did or did not require rescue analgesia. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Bupivacaine administered as a 4-point regional nerve block in addition to a systemic analgesic did not decrease discomfort or complication scores in cats undergoing forelimb onychectomy.