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Department of Animal Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Zootechny, Universidad del Tolima,
Ibagu, Colombia.
2
Small Animal Medicine and Surgery Research Group, Tolima University, Ibagu, Colombia.
Introduction
Abdominal surgery elicits considerable nociceptive input,1 where much of the pain described seems to originated from
the incision of the abdominal wall.2 The transverse abdominal plane (TAP) block has been proposed as a suitable
alternative to traditional loco-regional techniques to improve analgesia in procedures performed on the abdominal wall; 3
nevertheless, the TAP block can be ineffective in providing analgesia in the most cranial part of the abdominal wall. 2 and
complementary intercostal nerve blocks (INB) have been indicated to cover this deficit.
Objective
To describe the intraoperative analgesic effect of an intercostal nerve block in a dog undergoing surgical excision of a
tumor located in the cranial abdominal wall.
Fig 1. Position of the needle for the intercostal nerve block (INB).
RESULTS:
Physiological parameters
were stable during the entire
surgical procedure: mean HR
90 bpm, MAP 73 mm of Hg,
ETIso 2%. Fentanyl was not
supplemented.
Conclusion
The intercostal nerve blocks technique employed here was effective to provide an adequate analgesia to perform the
surgical resection of this fibrosarcoma, located at the craneal abdomen, in this dog.
References
1. Brunt J, Downing R, Hagedorn JE, et al. AAHA/AAFP pain management guidelines
for dogs & cats. J Am Anim Hosp Assoc 2007; 43: 235-248.
2. Wall PD, Melzack R. 1999. Pain measurements in persons in pain. In: Wall PD,
Melzack R, eds. Textbook of pain. 4th ed. Edinburgh, UK: Churchill Livingstone, p.
409426.
3. Schroeder CA, Snyder LB, Tearney CC, et al. Ultrasound-guided transversus
abdominis plane block in the dog: an anatomical evaluation. Vet Anaesth Analg
2011; 38: 267-271.