Epidural administration of bupivacaine, morphine, or their combination for postoperative analgesia in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To compare the analgesic effects of epidural administration of morphine (MOR), bupivacaine hydrochloride (BUP), their combination (COM), and 0.9% sterile NaCl solution (SAL) in dogs undergoing hind limb orthopedic surgeries.


METHODS
Blinded, randomized clinical trial.


METHODS
41 healthy dogs admitted for elective orthopedic surgeries involving the pelvis or hind limbs.


METHODS
Analgesic and control agents were administered postoperatively prior to recovery from isoflurane anesthesia. Ten dogs received MOR, 0.1 mg/kg of body weight; 10 received BUP, 0.5%, 1 ml/10-cm distance from the occipital protuberance to the lumbosacral space; 11 received COM; and 10 received SAL epidurally. Dogs were monitored for 24 hours after epidural injection for pain score, heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, time to required administration of supplemental analgesic agent, total number of supplemental doses of analgesic agent required, and plasma concentrations of cortisol, MOR, and BUP.


RESULTS
Pain scores were significantly lower in dogs in the COM and BUP groups than in dogs in the SAL group. Pain scores also were significantly lower in dogs in the COM group than in dogs in the MOR group. Time to required administration of supplemental analgesic agent was longer for dogs in the COM group than for dogs in the MOR and SAL groups. Total number of supplemental doses of analgesic agent required was lower for dogs in the BUP and COM groups than for dogs in the SAL group.


CONCLUSIONS
Postoperative epidural administration of COM or BUP alone provides longer-lasting analgesia, compared with MOR or SAL.
Hendrix
P K
PK
Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Minnesota, St Paul 55108, USA.
Raffe
M R
MR
Robinson
E P
EP
Felice
L J
LJ
Randall
D A
DA
D000075:Acepromazine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000662:veterinary*; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000818:Animals; D002045:Bupivacaine; D004283:Dog Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D004285:Dogs; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000097:blood; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000662:veterinary; D007273:Injections, Intramuscular / Q000662:veterinary; D007275:Injections, Intravenous / Q000662:veterinary; D009020:Morphine; D010111:Oxymorphone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D000075:Acepromazine; D009020:Morphine; D010111:Oxymorphone; D006854:Hydrocortisone; D002045:Bupivacaine