Intra- and post-operative analgesic efficacy of a quadratus lumborum block in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy: a randomized clinical trial
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of quadratus lumborum block (QLB) on intra- and postoperative requirements for rescue analgesia (fentanyl) and on postoperative pain in dogs undergoing elective ovariohysterectomy.
STUDY DESIGN
Randomized, blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial.
ANIMALS
A group of 24 client-owned, healthy bitches scheduled for elective ovariohysterectomy.
METHODS
Dogs were assigned to receive either a QLB with 0.5 mL kg-1 per side bupivacaine 0.25% (BUP group) or an equivalent volume of NaCl 0.9% (SAL group). All dogs were anaesthetized using the same anaesthetic protocol. Intravenous fentanyl was intraoperatively administered whenever heart rate and/or respiratory rate and/or mean arterial blood pressure increased ≥ 20% from baseline following surgical stimulation. Postoperatively, pain was assessed blindly with the short form of the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (GCMPS-SF) and with measurement of para-incisional mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) at 20 minutes (t1), 1 (t2), 2 (t3), 4 (t4), 9 (t5) and 20 (t6) hours after extubation. Postoperative fentanyl/morphine were administered if the GCMPS-SF score exceeded 6/24; subsequent pain assessments were not performed. Chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U and general linear model for repeated measurements were used for statistical analysis; p < 0.05.
RESULTS
Intraoperatively, four of 12 dogs and nine of 12 dogs received fentanyl in the BUP and SAL groups, respectively (p = 0.1). Total fentanyl…
How strong is the evidence?
Evidence Hub reads this as a randomized trial, done in people. Its evidence level is 2 of 5 (High · randomized trial). Randomized trials of a reasonable size are the strongest single-study design.
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