The combination of an ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block and epidural morphine as effective intra-operative adjuncts to opioid premedication in six dogs undergoing lateral thoracotomy

Abstract

Six dogs were presented to the University College Dublin Veterinary Hospital for either left or right lateral thoracotomy. After opioid premedication and induction of general anaesthesia, ultrasound-guided erector spinae plane (ESP) block with bupivacaine 0.5% (0.5 mL/kg) or bupivacaine 0.25% (1 mL/kg) was performed in all cases before the surgical procedure along with morphine (0.2 mg/kg) administered epidurally. This combination of local techniques was a successful adjunct to systemic analgesia in these six dogs undergoing lateral thoracotomy, reducing considerably the need for systemic opioids intra- and post-operatively. Ultrasound-guided ESP block with bupivacaine and epidurally administered morphine provided good multimodal intra-operative analgesia for dogs undergoing lateral thoracotomy.