Transversus Abdominis plane block to manage post operative pain in canine mastectomy

The aim of this study was to assess effectiveness of transversus abdominis plane block as part of a multimodal anaesthetic protocol in controlling perioperative nociception/ pain in dogs that underwent mammary tumour excision. The study included twelve dogs belonging to different breeds and ages. The dogs were classified according to the American Society of Anaesthetists (ASA) classification of physical status, based on their pre-anaesthetic evaluations and were divided into two groups: I and II, each with six dogs. Dogs in both groups received dexmedetomidine for premedication and diazepam-propofol for induction. Group I dogs were subjected to Transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block and Group II dogs were given butorphanol. Pain score was assessed using the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (GCMPS-SF) at one hour post-operatively. The pain score was significantly lower in Group I. None of the dogs in Group I required rescue analgesia. TAP block proved beneficial in mitigating nociception and postoperative pain in dogs undergoing mammary tumour excision. Keywords: Mammary tumour resection, TAP block, post-operative pain