title: The effect of neuromuscular blockade on canine laparoscopic ovariectomy: a double-blinded, prospective clinical trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) on surgical time and various anesthetic variables during laparoscopic ovariectomy in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, double-blinded, randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Female dogs (n = 40).
  
  
  METHODS
  Laparoscopic ovariectomy by bipolar electrocoagulation was performed by 1 surgeon using a standardized protocol, where 1 ovary was removed under NMB, and the other without NMB. Surgical and anesthetic (respiratory and circulatory) variables were recorded for predetermined procedural stages and were statistically evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean total surgical time was 25.1 ± 6.3 minutes (range, 16-47 minutes). With NMB, mean duration of surgical excision of the ovary (5.7 ± 2.3 minutes) was not significantly changed compared to ovariectomy without NMB (5.9 ± 1.9 minutes). Arterial blood pressure was the only recorded anesthetic variable that significantly changed under NMB (5% decrease). Occurrence of intraoperative complications did not differ. In obese dogs, total surgical time was increased by 22%. Other variables, including occurrence of intraoperative mesovarial bleeding did not influence surgical duration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NMB did not significantly improve laparoscopic ovariectomy times and except for a 5% decrease in arterial blood pressure did not change any of the evaluated anesthetic and surgical variables.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Sciences of Companion Animals, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Utrecht University, Yalelaan 108, 3584CM, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Bart.vangoethem@UGent.be
authors.forename: Bart
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Van Goethem
authors.forename: Sebastiaan Alexander
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: van Nimwegen
authors.forename: Ies
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Akkerdaas
authors.forename: Joanna Claire
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Murrell
authors.forename: Kirpensteijn
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Jolle
mesh_terms: D000758:Anesthesia / Q000662:veterinary; D000818:Animals; D004285:Dogs / Q000601:surgery*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D019148:Neuromuscular Blockade / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D010052:Ovariectomy / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D013997:Time Factors