OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of bupivacaine liposomal injectable suspension (BLIS) in reducing post-operative pain in dogs undergoing enucleation.
ANIMALS: 30 dogs
PROCEDURES: Client-owned dogs were randomly assigned to receive BLIS or saline. Dogs were premedicated with hydromorphone 0.1 mg/kg and acepromazine 0.01-0.04 mg/kg, induced with propofol to effect, and maintained with isoflurane. After subconjunctival enucleation and immediately prior to incision closure, the subcutaneous eyelid tissues were injected with BLIS or saline in a ring-block manner. Pain scoring and algometry of the incision were performed preoperatively and at 0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 24, 36, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively. All dogs received oral meloxicam (0.1 mg/kg) following the 8-hour measurements. Rescue analgesia occurred with a pain score ≥3 in any category or ≥10 total.
RESULTS: Fewer dogs in the BLIS group (p=0.010) required rescue analgesia (20% vs 66% of control dogs). Dogs receiving BLIS had higher algometry values at T0 (p=0.045) and lower algometry values at T24 (p=0.02) and T48 (p=0.014). Pain scores at T1 (p=0.042) were higher in dogs that received saline. In all dogs from both groups that did not require rescue analgesia, there was a significant increase in algometry values between T8 and T24 (p=0.0056).
CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Fewer dogs receiving BLIS required rescue analgesia, supporting its use as part of a multimodal pain management plan.
