title: An ultrasound-guided technique for axillary brachial plexus nerve block in rabbits.
abstract: Regional anesthesia techniques, such as nerve blocks, are routinely used in humans and can contribute to multimodal approaches to pain management in research animals. Ultrasound guidance is an emerging aspect of regional anesthesia that has the potential to optimize local delivery and distribution of anesthetic agents, thereby reducing the amounts of these agents that must be administered. The authors developed an ultrasound-guided technique for effective block of the axillary brachial plexus in rabbits. They used this technique to carry out nerve block in 14 rabbits. The procedure was accomplished in a relatively short amount of time and achieved successful nerve block in all rabbits with no adverse effects. Sonographic visualization of the distribution of the local anesthetic ropivacaine led to administration of smaller anesthetic doses in eight of the rabbits without affecting the duration of nerve block. The authors conclude that their technique is feasible and safe and provides effective analgesia of the thoracic limb in rabbits. They recommend that this technique be integrated into multimodal approaches to pain management in rabbits undergoing thoracic limb surgery.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Surgery Unit, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fonseca
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, Vall d'Hebron Universitary Hospital, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Server
authors.affiliation: Experimental Surgery Unit, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marielle
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Esteves
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering, Orthopaedics and Surgery in Pediatrics, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barastegui
authors.affiliation: Experimental Surgery Unit, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rosal
authors.affiliation: Bioengineering, Orthopaedics and Surgery in Pediatrics, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Cesar G
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Fontecha
authors.affiliation: 1] Bioengineering, Orthopaedics and Surgery in Pediatrics, Vall d'Hebron Research Institute, Barcelona, Spain. [2] Hospital Sant Joan de Deu, Barcelona, Spain.
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Soldado
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000818:Animals; D001917:Brachial Plexus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D065527:Brachial Plexus Block / Q000379:methods* / Q000662:veterinary*; D059408:Pain Management; D011817:Rabbits; D000077212:Ropivacaine; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000077212:Ropivacaine