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. 2024 Sep 23;68(3):469-473.
doi: 10.2478/jvetres-2024-0048. eCollection 2024 Sep.

The perfusion index as a method of assessing epidural anaesthesia efficacy in healthy dogs

Harumichi Itoh  1 , Hajime Inoue  1 , Takuya Itamoto  1 , Kenji Tani  2 , Hiroshi Sunahara  2 , Yuki Nemoto  2 , Munekazu Nakaichi  3 , Toshie Iseri  4 , Kazuhito Itamoto  1
Affiliations

The perfusion index as a method of assessing epidural anaesthesia efficacy in healthy dogs

Harumichi Itoh et al. J Vet Res. .

Abstract

Introduction: Perfusion index (PI) is used as assessment of epidural anaesthesia efficacy in human medicine, but its usefulness in dogs is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of PI in determining epidural anaesthesia effectiveness.

Material and methods: This is prospective cross-over experimental study. Five healthy adult beagle dogs were anaesthetised and an epidural catheter was inserted in the lumbosacral area and adjusted so that the end of the catheter was placed at the fourth lumbar vertebra. Single-port catheters were used in the control group and multiple-port catheters were used in the treatment group. A PI probe was placed on a hind leg, and the catheter placement was confirmed via computed tomography. The treatment group received a bolus dose of lidocaine, and the control group received saline, via epidural catheter. The PI value was recorded every 5 min until 30 min after lidocaine injection.

Results: The PIs of the hind limbs were not significantly different over time, nor were they between the control and lidocaine-injected groups at any point in time.

Conclusion: The PI is not useful in determining the efficacy of epidural anaesthesia in dogs under general anaesthesia. In the future, finding a reliable method to evaluate the success of regional anaesthesia, even in patients under general anaesthesia, will be necessary.

Keywords: epidural catheter; lidocaine; multiple-port catheter; perfusion index; single-port catheter.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of Interests Statement: The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this article.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Identification of the catheter position by computed tomography. Arrowhead – location of epidural catheter
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