Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Epidural catheter use for repeated steroid shots in dogs with back
By Bussières, Marie-Philippe et al.·Published in The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne·2024·The Veterinary Specialty Clinic for Anesthesia and Neurology (VSCAN)·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Preliminary evaluation of an indwelling epidural catheter for repeat methylprednisolone administration in canine lumbosacral stenosis.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 11 dogs with lumbosacral pain (lower back pain) underwent a procedure to insert a permanent epidural catheter, which allows for repeated steroid injections to help manage their discomfort. After the procedure, all dogs showed improved comfort levels without any complications, and 10 of the dogs had no issues with the catheter for the entire study period. One dog did experience a suspected leak after over two years. Overall, this method proved to be a safe and effective way to provide ongoing pain relief for dogs suffering from this condition.
People also search for: dog lumbosacral stenosis treatment · epidural steroid injection for dogs · dog back pain management
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To determine the complications, outcomes, and patency of a permanent epidural catheter and subcutaneous access port system (ECAPS) as part of conservative management of degenerative lumbosacral stenosis in dogs. ANIMALS AND PROCEDURE: Medical records of 11 client-owned dogs that underwent an ECAPS insertion were evaluated retrospectively. Clinical signs, complications related to the procedure, and system patency are reported. RESULTS: All dogs had lumbosacral pain at their initial neurological assessment, with comfort levels adequately controlled following epidural infiltrations. None suffered from complications related to the ECAPS procedure. In 10 dogs, there were no malfunctions for the duration of the study. However, in 1 dog, there was a suspected leak at Day 814. The longest duration of patency reported in this study was 870 d (at the time of writing). CONCLUSION: Placement of an ECAPS is a feasible technique and a viable option to permit repeated epidural injections of steroids in dogs with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis that is managed conservatively. Further studies are required to evaluate complication rates.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38694734/