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Blockage of the dorsal rami of the spinal nerves (DRSN) provides analgesia to the epaxial musculature area in dogs. However, techniques to block the DRSN at the cervical level in dogs haven't yet been investigated. This study aimed to study the anatomy of the cervical area, and to describe a new ultrasound (US)-guided inter-transversospinalis plane (ITP) block technique at the 5th cervical vertebrae (C5). Fourteen adult canine's cadavers were used in this blinded, cadaveric, experimental study. One cadaver for cryo-section, one for anatomical research and twelve to do an ITP injection using 0.3 mL/kg (HV) or 0.15 mL/kg (LV) of dye/contrast solution in each lateral at C5, followed by a computed tomography and anatomical dissection. The HV and LV groups stained a median (range) of 4.67 (3-6) and 3.67 (2-5) DRSN into the ITP, respectively (P<0.017). Stained DRSN in the splenius plane were found in nine (75%) HV and five (41.66%) LV injections, respectively. Spread in the epidural space was found in two dogs using LV. One of them was injected into the ITP (4.33 %) while the other one was done accidentally outside of this plane. The paravertebral spread was found in one injection of each group. There was no dye of the ventral rami of the spinal nerves. The US-guided ITP injection is feasible in dog cadavers. The LV injected just after the medial surface of the semispinalis capitis muscle is recommended to avoid a possible extensive epidural spread., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest None of the authors has any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Objective: To compare the perioperative opioid requirements among dogs receiving an erector spinae plane (ESP) block with bupivacaine, with or without dexmedetomidine, and a control group., Animals and Procedure: Thirty client-owned, healthy adult dogs undergoing hemilaminectomy were included in this randomized, prospective, blinded clinical study. Dogs were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatment groups: Group B, ESP block with bupivacaine; Group BD, ESP block with bupivacaine and dexmedetomidine; and Group C, control. Rescue intra- and postoperative analgesia consisted of fentanyl and methadone, respectively. Postoperative pain was evaluated using the short form of the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-SF)., Results: In Group BD, 0/10 dogs required intraoperative fentanyl, compared to 9/10 in Group C ( P < 0.001), whereas 1/10 required postoperative methadone, compared to 9/10 in Group B ( P = 0.003) and 10/10 in Group C ( P < 0.001). The total amount of intraoperative fentanyl (μg/kg) was 0 (0 to 4) in Group B and 0 (0 to 0) in BD, compared to 6 (0 to 8) in C ( P = 0.004 and P < 0.001, respectively). Postoperative methadone (mg/kg) required during the first 12 h was 0.5 (0 to 1.4) in Group B ( P = 0.003) and 0 (0 to 0) in BD ( P < 0.001), compared to C ( P = 0.003 and P < 0.001, respectively)., Conclusion: An ESP block with bupivacaine, with or without dexmedetomidine, was associated with a reduction in perioperative opioid consumption and provided effective acute pain control., (Copyright and/or publishing rights held by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.)

This study describes a transversal (TV) ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block technique over the transverse process of T12. And evaluates the distribution of the dye and affected nerves branches compared to a longitudinal (LNG) approach over the transverse process of T12 in canine cadavers. Secondly, it also compares de anatomy and dimensions of the transverse processes of T12 with T9 and T5. For this double-masked, cadaveric experimental study, 12 adult Beagle cadavers were injected with 0.6 mL/kg of dye/contrast. Spread was evaluated by computed tomography (CT) and dissection. Mean bodyweight was 9.76 (±0.59) kg. The TV and LNG approaches stained a median (range) of four (2-6) and three (1-6) medial branches of the dorsal rami of the spinal nerves, three (2-6) and three (2-5) lateral branches, and one (0-3) and one (0-4) ventral branches, respectively. Dye was detected in the epidural space in 55.6% and 66.7% of cases for the TV and LNG approaches, respectively (P=0.63). And in the ventral paravertebral compartment in 22.2% and lymphatics in 88.8% in both approaches. There were no statistical differences for the spread. The dorsolateral edge of the transverse process (TP) was not visible with CT at T12. The mean (±SD) length of the TP was significantly shorter at T12 [3.34 (±0.22)] mm, compared to T9 [6.08 (±0.47)] mm and T5 [5.93 (±0.62)] mm (P <0.001). This study showed similar distribution whether using a TV or LNG approach and differences in the anatomy and length of the T12 TP., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest statement None of the authors has any financial or personal relationships that could inappropriately influence or bias the content of the paper., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

Case Series Summary: The erector spinae plane (ESP) block consists of an interfascial injection of local anaesthetic between the erector spinae muscle group and the transverse processes of the thoracic vertebrae. This block targets the dorsal rami of the thoracic spinal nerves to desensitise the cutaneous area near the dorsal midline, the paraspinal muscles, the dorsal vertebral laminae and the facet joints. The purpose of this case series is to describe the perioperative analgesic effect and complications of ultrasound-guided ESP block with bupivacaine in three cats undergoing spinal surgery. Only one cardiovascular response was recorded in this case series. Just one cat received intraoperative rescue analgesia. Cats 1 and 2 recorded just one high pain score in the first 24 h postoperatively, and cat 3 recorded three high pain scores. The total amount of methadone given in the 24 h postoperatively was 0.6 mg/kg in cat 1, 0.9 mg/kg in cat 2 and 0.8 mg/kg in cat 3. All three cats suffered mild and transient intraoperative complications, which were easily addressed. There were no postoperative complications., Relevance and Novel Information: This case series documents a novel locoregional anaesthesia technique as an alternative to traditional systemic analgesia. The technique is part of a multimodal analgesia approach for spinal surgery in cats. Perioperative analgesic effect and complications presented in this case series are evaluated and discussed., Competing Interests: Conflict of interest: The authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article., (© The Author(s) 2021.)