A Cadaveric Study Investigating the Mechanism of Action of Erector Spinae Blockade in Dogs
locoregional anesthesia, magnetic resonance, dogs, analgesia
Locoregional anesthesia is widely used for analgesia and muscle relaxation in invasive diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. These techniques promote, among other advantages, effective blockade of the nociceptive stimulus, favoring the stability of the anesthetic plane and less alteration in homeostasis. Several locoregional block techniques are adapted from human practice for different animal species; however, morphological features of speceis determine that the effectiveness and extent of each blockade are tested in each proposed species. The blockade of the spinal erector plane, recently described in humans, provides the blockage of the dorsal and ventral branches of the thoracic spinal nerves and sympathetic nerve fibers, promoting visceral and somatic analgesia, being able to be used in a variety of thoracic and abdominal surgeries. The description of this technique and the extent of blockade in dogs is still poorly established. In this way, the objective is to simulate this technique and to evaluate the extent of blockade using images and reconstructions of resonance magnetic exam. The blockade of the spinal erector plane will be performed on 10 dogs cadavers, guided by ultrasonography, according to the technique proposed by Forero et al. (2016), using 0.5 mL/kg of contrast agent (gadolinium), at the T5 transverse process. Magnetic resonance imaging will be acquired in T1 and Fat Saturation, where the contrast dispersion will be evaluated in the craniocaudal, dorsoventral, mid-lateral, foraminal space, epidural and intercostal plans. The results will be analyzed through descriptive statistics to determine the extent and possible nerve roots desensitized by the blockade. At the end of the study it is expected to determine the capacity of visceral and somatic analgesia to establish the use of this technique at surgical procedures in the canine species.