title: A new brachial plexus block technique in dogs.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of a new technique of brachial plexus anesthesia in dogs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, experimental study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve adult mongrel dogs, six males and six females weighing 14.8 ± 1.75 kg.
  
  
  METHODS
  The animals were sedated with acepromazine 0.05 mg kg-1and anesthetized with propofol (6 mg kg-1, IV bolus) followed by an infusion of 212 μg kg-1minute-1. The brachial plexus block technique was performed utilizing the brachial artery as an anatomic landmark, the needle was inserted from the axilla and a nerve stimulator was used to ensure the accuracy of needle placement. Bupivacaine (0.375% with 5 μg mL-1epinephrine) was used at a dose rate of 4 mg kg-1. Dogs underwent mid-diaphyseal osteotomies of the humerus followed by intramedullary pin fixation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Onset time to motor and sensory block were 9.70 ± 5.52 and 26.20 ± 8.86 minutes, respectively. Analgesia lasted for 11.11 ± 0.47 hours. The block was effective in 91.6% of the animals, being verified by anesthesia of the whole front limb distal to the shoulder. One animal became hypotensive after the block and did not undergo the surgery at that time. In the remaining 10 animals the heart and respiratory rates, blood pressure, blood gas parameters and plasma bicarbonate concentration did not show any statistically significant alterations during the surgical procedure.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This brachial plexus block technique is effective in most cases to provide surgical analgesia for the front limb distal to the shoulder.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Various surgical procedures in the front limb can be performed with a regional anesthetic technique without the use and concomitant risks of general anesthesia in dogs. Long-lasting analgesia associated with this technique may also provide a valuable tool for the management of pain in the forelimb.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil. Electronic address: fabiofutema@uol.com.br.
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Futema
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Denise Tabacchi
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Fantoni
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology of the Medical School Heart Institute, INCOR, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: José Otávio Costa
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Auler
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Silvia Renata Gaido
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Cortopassi
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Acaui
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, School of Veterinary Medicine, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.
authors.forename: Angelo João
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Stopiglia
keywords: brachial plexus; bupivacaine; canine; local anesthetic; orthopedic surgery