Abstract
Objective
To determine if a nerve stimulation test (NST) could act as a monitoring technique
to confirm sacrococcygeal epidural needle placement in cats.
Study design
Prospective experimental trial in a clinical setting.
Animals
Twenty-four adult cats, scheduled for a therapeutic procedure where epidural anesthesia
was indicated.
Methods
Under general anesthesia, an insulated needle was inserted through the S3-Cd1 intervertebral space guided by the application of a fixed electrical current (0.7
mA) until a motor response was obtained. The NST was considered positive when the
epidural nerve stimulation produced a motor response of the muscles of the tail, whereas
it was considered negative when no motor response was evoked. In the NST positive
cases, 0.3 mL kg−1 of 0.5% bupivacaine was administrated before needle withdrawal. Ten minutes after
injection, epidural blockade was confirmed by the loss of perineal (anal), and pelvic
limbs reflexes (patellar and withdrawal).
Results
The use of a fixed electrical stimulation current of 0.7 mA resulted in correct prediction
of sacrococcygeal epidural injection, corroborated by post bupivacaine loss of perineal
and pelvic limb reflexes, in 95.8% of the cases.
Conclusion and clinical relevance
This study demonstrates the feasibility of using, in a clinical setting, an electrical
stimulation test as an objective and in real-time method to confirm sacrococcygeal
epidural needle placement in cats.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
February 23,
2014
Received:
December 23,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2015 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
