Evaluation of tumescent local anesthesia, epidural technique, and dexmedetomidine infusion in bitches undergoing mastectomies: A randomized study of perioperative and postoperative analgesia

ABSTRACT Total unilateral mastectomy is the standard technique for treating mammary tumors in dogs. Combined with multimodal analgesia, different anesthetic techniques improve pain control. This study evaluated the transoperative and postoperative analgesic efficacy of continuous dexmedetomidine infusion (GD), tumescence (GT), and epidural block (GE) using the Short Form of the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-SF) in dogs undergoing mastectomy. Eighteen dogs were randomly assigned to three groups of six animals each. Vital parameters, including heart rate (HR), oxygen saturation (SpO2), systolic (SBP), diastolic (DAP), and mean arterial pressures (MAP), expired carbon dioxide fraction (FeCO2), expired isoflurane fraction (FeISO), and body temperature (T°C), were recorded. GD demonstrated a reduction in HR. FeISO requirements decreased by 25.6%, 8.12%, and 7.27% in GD, GT, and GE, respectively. GE required the highest number of intraoperative rescue interventions (10), followed by GD (5) and GT (4). Postoperatively, GD necessitated the most rescue interventions (10), followed by GE (7) and GT (3). GT provided superior postoperative analgesia, lasting up to 8 hours, while the other groups required rescue within the first hour of postoperative assessment. In conclusion, the tumescence technique offered more effective perioperative pain control, with prolonged postoperative analgesia.