The effect of local anaesthesia on anaesthetic requirements for feline ovariectomy

• Published in: The veterinary journal (1997) Vol. 178; no. 2; pp. 214 - 218
• Main Authors: Zilberstein, Luca F., Moens, Yves P., Leterrier, Eléonore
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Elsevier Ltd 01.11.2008
• Subjects: Administration, Topical; Anaesthesia; Analgesia; anesthesia; Anesthesia - methods; Anesthesia - veterinary; Anesthetics, Dissociative - administration & dosage; Anesthetics, Local - administration & dosage; Animals; Cats; Cats - surgery; combination drug therapy; depth of anesthesia; dosage; drug delivery systems; Female; general anesthetics; intramuscular injection; ketamine; Ketamine - administration & dosage; Lidocaine; Lidocaine - administration & dosage; local anesthetics; normal values; Ovariectomy; Ovariectomy - methods; Ovariectomy - veterinary; pharmacokinetics; physiological response; preoperative care; spaying; topical application; veterinary drugs; veterinary medicine; Anaesthesia; Analgesia; Cats; Ovariectomy; Lidocaine
• ISSN: 1090-0233; 1532-2971
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tvjl.2007.10.011

A dose of supplementary ketamine was used to evaluate the anaesthetic sparing effect of adding local anaesthesia to general anaesthesia in cats undergoing ovariectomy. Fifty-six healthy cats were randomly assigned to receive lidocaine 2% (group L) as skin infiltration (1 mg kg −1), topical application (splash block) on both the ovaries (2 mg kg −1, each) and on abdominal muscular layers (1 mg kg −1), or an equal volume of NaCl 0.9% at the same sites (group S). Anaesthesia was induced with a mixture of 20 μg kg −1 medetomidine and 5 mg kg −1 ketamine administered intramuscularly. Rectal temperature, ECG, heart rate and respiratory rate were measured continuously. Ketamine supplemental boli (1 mg kg −1, intravenously) were administered in response to movements during surgery. Local lidocaine significantly reduced the need for supplementary ketamine. All animals were returned to their owners without complications. With this protocol, local anaesthetics reduced the need for injectable anaesthetic during feline ovariectomy.