This is a concise visual guide to the major techniques of regional anesthesia and analgesia for small animal practitioners, with complete coverage of the relevant physics, physiology, and pharmacology.

•Provides straightforward advice and easy-to-implement strategies for general veterinary practitioners without specialist training who want to incorporate regional anesthesia into their practice

•Features an accessible design with plenty of diagrams and photos and a convenient and robust spiral-bound format that lays flat for use during procedures

•Broken into sections which explain techniques by limb or body part and by species

•Details important anatomy (nerves, bones, and vessels), as well as possible side effects and complications

Chapter 1 Introduction
1. Why provide regional anaesthesia
a. History of regional anaesthesia/analgesia
b. Principles of the major techniques
i. Epidural/spinal
ii. Peripheral nerve blockade
iii. Regional infiltration
iv. Topical application
v. Intra–articular injection
c. Local anaesthetics
i. Mechanism of action
ii. Physico–chemical properties
iii. Specific drugs
1. Lidocaine, mepivacaine, ropivacaine, bupivacaine
2. Duration of action
3. Side effects
d. Additives to local anaesthetics
i. Opioids
ii. Alpha–2–adrenoreceptor agonists
iii. Ketamine
iv. Adrenaline
v. Bicarbonate
vi. Hyaluronidase
2. Equipment
a. Needles
b. Catheters
c. Peripheral nerve stimulators
d. Ultrasonic imaging
e. Differential pressure transducer
f. Acoustic device
3. Complications
a. Local anaesthetic toxicity
b. Adverse effects of technique
4. Species differences and considerations
5. Safe practice
a. Gaining confidence
b. Making a plan

Chapter 2 Practical application cutaneous innervation index
1. Head
2. Thoracic limb
3. Pelvic limb
4. Thorax
5. Abdomen
6. Perineum/tail

Chapter 3 Infiltration Blocks (8 diagrams, 4 photos)
1. Infiltration for mass removal
2. Soaker catheter/pain buster
3. Intercostal blocks
4. Intrapleural block
5. Intraperitoneal block

Chapter 4 Blocks of the head (12 diagrams, 6 photos)
1. Retrobulbar
2. Maxillary
3. Mandibular (inferior alveolar)
4. Mental (AKA middle mental)
5. Infraorbital
6. Major palatine
7. Auriculotemporal and great auricular

Chapter 5 Regional anesthetic blocks of the limbs (7 diagrams, 10photos)
H1 Thoracic limb
H2 Brachial plexus (1 diag, 1 photo)
H2 Paravertebral C6–T1 (1 diag, 2 photo)
H2 RUMM (Radial/Ulnar/Median/Musculocutaneous) (1 diag, 2 photos)
H2 Bier block (Staffieri 2013) (1photo)
H1 Pelvic Limb
H2 Femoral/Saphenous nerve block
H3 Inguinal approach (1 diag, 1 photo)
H3 Lateral pre–iliac approach (caudal lumba plexus block) (1 diag, 1 photo)
H2 Sciatic nerve block (Sacral plexus block)
H3 Lateral approach (1 diag, 1 photo)
H3 Parasacral approach (1 diag, 1 photo)

Chapter 6 Epidurals/spinals (4 diagrams, 2 photos)
1. Uses
a. Abdominal pain
b. Thoracic pain
c. Hindlimb
d. Perineum/Tail
2. Techniques
a. Lumbosacral
b. Coccygeal

Chapter 7 Appendices
1. Emergency Procedures
2. Resources
3. References

Phillip Lerche, BVSc, PhD, CertVA, DipACVAA, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University, USA

 

Turi Aarnes, DVM, MS, DipACVAA, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences at The Ohio State University, USA

 

Gwen Covey-Crump, BVetMed, CertVA, DipECVAA, MRCVS, is a Clinical Teacher at Langford Veterinary Services, University of Bristol, UK. She is European and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia

 

Fernando Martinez Taboada, LV, CertVA, DipECVAA, MRCVS, is European and RCVS Specialist in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. He currently works at the University of Sydney, Australia, as Specialist in Small Animal Anaesthesia.