spinal/epidural

Re: spinal/epidural

Matt Gurney — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 20:47:51 GMT

I use 22G 3.5inch spinal needles from Becton Dickenson for most dogs. They also do a shorter needle (can't remember the exact length) which I use for cats. So two boxes will suit most dog/cat situations.

Matt

Re: spinal/epidural

amy sinton — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 13:16:26 GMT

thanks for your feedback gents- really helpful. Are there any particular needles you like to use when performing single shot epidural? Most of the anaesthetists i have asked about this generally use quincke but out of habit more than anything. have you any comments?

Thanks Again

Amy

Re: spinal/epidural

Matt Gurney — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 21:55:01 GMT

I never set out to perform a spinal injection - it happens as a consequence of the dural sac ending at different levels in some animals - it ends more caudally in younger animals and cats. It highlights the importance of aspirating to check for CSF before injection. As James said you don't want to go pushing local anywhere near the cardioaccelerator fibres.

I used to reduce my dose by half but even using a 1/4 of your original dose gives excellent analgesia.

Matt

Re: spinal/epidural

james hunt — Wed, 10 Feb 2010 20:53:46 GMT

Hi Amy,

Spinal injections are more likely to result in cranial spread of drugs so more care with dose of local anaesthetic agents is needed - if I encounter CSF when attempting lumbar epidural I will use 50% of my originally calculated dose of local, but will use the same dose of opioid.

Onset of sensory block is reportedly faster when spinal anaesthesia is performed compared to epidural.

In terms of procedures both can provide very effective analgesia for hindlimb and abdominal surgery. It is possible to advance an epidural catheter cranially to deliver opioids and provide analgesia for thoracic/forelimb procedures (can't use local anaesthetics here as may stop respiration).

Side effects of both spinal and epidural are hypotension, potential respiratory depression, urinary retention/pruritus (opioid related). Dural puncture in humans produces high incidence of headache.

Once epidural injection has been performed positioning the animal is important...keep the side you wish analgesia to develop lowermost for 10-15 minutes.

Hope this is of some use...Matt Gurney visits the forums sometimes and would be a good source of further information

best wishes

james