Pelvic limb anesthesia and analgesia in dogs undergoing tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO): A survey of board-certified anesthesiologists.

Abstract

To report the locoregional anesthesia and analgesia preferences of veterinary anesthesiologists for use in dogs undergoing a TPLO and determine any association with specialty college, time from board-certification, or employment sector. Cross sectional study. Diplomates of the American (ACVAA) and European (ECVAA) Colleges of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. An electronic survey was distributed to diplomates and responses were used to determine associations between preferred methods. The survey response rate was 28% (141/500) with 69% (97/141) of ACVAA diplomates and 31% of diplomates with ECVAA (44/141) certification. Peripheral nerve block (PNB) was preferred by 79% (111/141) of all diplomates, lumbosacral epidural (LE) by 21% (29/141), and peri-incisional infiltration (PI) by <1% (1/141). There was no association (p=.283) with specialty college. There was an association (p < .001) with time from board-certification with increased preference for LE when >10-years from certification and PI preferred by only those board-certified >20-years ago. There was an association with employment sector (p=.003) with more academic diplomates preferring LE. Anesthesiologists reported that treatment decisions were affected by various factors including time pressure and surgeon influence. Diplomates of ACVAA and ECVAA prefer PNB as the locoregional method of pelvic limb anesthesia in dogs undergoing TPLO. A greater percentage of newer and private practice diplomates prefer PNB while a larger percentage of senior and academic diplomates prefer LE. Decision making is multifactorial and includes perceived time pressure and surgeon influence. Veterinary anesthesiologists prefer and frequently use PNB in dogs undergoing TPLO and surgeon influence may affect their chosen treatment.