title: Effects of dexmedetomidine combined with ropivacaine on sciatic and femoral nerve blockade in dogs.
abstract: To evaluate motor and sensory blockade of combining dexmedetomidine with ropivacaine, administered perineurally or systemically, for femoral and sciatic nerve blocks in conscious dogs.
  
  
  
  Randomized, controlled, experimental study.
  
  
  
  Seven healthy Beagle dogs, aged 3.3 ± 0.1 years and weighing 11.0 ± 2.4 kg.
  
  
  
  Dogs were anesthetized with isoflurane on three separate occasions for unilateral femoral and sciatic nerve blocks and were administered the following treatments in random order: perineural ropivacaine 0.75% (0.1 mL kg-1) on each nerve and intramuscular (IM) saline (0.2 mL kg-1) (Gcon); perineural dexmedetomidine (1 μg mL-1) and ropivacaine 0.75% (0.1 mL kg-1) on each nerve and IM saline (0.2 mL kg-1) (GDPN); and perineural ropivacaine 0.75% (0.1 mL kg-1) on each nerve and IM dexmedetomidine (1 μg mL-1, 0.2 mL kg-1) (Gdim). Nerve blocks were guided by ultrasound and electrical stimulation and dogs were allowed to recover from general anesthesia. Sensory blockade was evaluated by response to clamp pressure on the skin innervated by the saphenous/ femoral, common fibular and tibial nerves. Motor blockade was evaluated by observing the ability to walk and proprioception. Sensory and motor blockade were evaluated until their full recovery.
  
  
  
  No significant differences in onset time to motor and sensory blockade were observed among treatments. Duration of motor blockade was not significantly different among treatments; however, duration of tibial sensory blockade was longer in the Gdpnthan in the GDIMtreatment.
  
  
  
  Although a longer duration of sensory blockade was observed with perineural dexmedetomidine, a significant increase compared with the control group was not established. Other concentrations should be investigated to verify if dexmedetomidine is a useful adjuvant to local anesthetics in peripheral nerve blocks in dogs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Clinic, Surgery and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Araçatuba (FMVA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, Brazil. Electronic address: thomas.trein@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Trein
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Clinic, Surgery and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Araçatuba (FMVA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Beatriz P
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Floriano
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Clinic, Surgery and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Araçatuba (FMVA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Juliana T
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Wagatsuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Clinic, Surgery and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Araçatuba (FMVA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joana Z
authors.initials: JZ
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Clinic, Surgery and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Araçatuba (FMVA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Guilherme L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Clinic, Surgery and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Araçatuba (FMVA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paulo S P
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Department of Support, Production and Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Araçatuba (FMVA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Sílvia H V
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Perri
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Clinic, Surgery and Reproduction, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of Araçatuba (FMVA), São Paulo State University (UNESP), Araçatuba, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valéria Nls
authors.initials: VN
authors.lastname: Oliva
keywords: analgesia; anesthetic adjuvant; canine; locoregional anesthesia; α(2)-adrenergic agonists