Incidence of postoperative administration of opioids in dogs undergoing a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy after intra-operative liposomal bupivacaine administration with or without morphine epidural.

OBJECTIVE

To determine the influence of two intraoperative pain management protocols on the need for additional opioids in patients receiving an epidural and periarticular liposomal bupivacaine (PLB) vs. PLB alone in the 12-24 h period after undergoing a TPLO.

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

ANIMALS

One hundred seventy-four dogs with cranial cruciate ligament tears presenting for TPLO.

METHODS

Medical records of dogs presenting for a unilateral or bilateral cranial cruciate ligament tear who had a TPLO performed were reviewed for signalment, weight, body condition score, and peri-operative pain management protocol. Dogs were divided into two groups: those who received an epidural and PLB, and those who received only PLB. Post-operative opioid administration was recorded for each group.

RESULTS

Patients who received an epidural and PLB received fewer postoperative opioids. There were 36% fewer opioid injections administered to dogs who received epidurals compared to dogs who did not receive epidurals (IRR) (95% CI) = 0.64 (0.45-0.92), P = 0.02). BCS was not a significant predictor of the post-operative opioid requirement (IRR (95% CI) = 1.3 (0.75-2.4), P = 0.38). When adjusting for BCS as a possible confounder, there were 39% fewer opioid injections in dogs who received epidurals than dogs without (IRR (95% CI) = 0.61 (0.42-0.88), P = 0.009).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of postoperative opioid administration was significantly diminished in patients receiving both an epidural and PLB.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

Administration of an epidural in addition to infiltration of PLB significantly decreased the incidence of postoperative opioid administration in dogs undergoing a TPLO.