Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Ultrasound-guided nerve block for eye surgery in a dog
By Dixon, Sophie et al.·Published in Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia·2026·North Downs Specialist Referrals, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Ultrasound-guided coronoid approach to the trigeminal nerve block in a dog undergoing orbital exenteration.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A 12-year-old male Jack Russell Terrier was given a nerve block before surgery to remove a mass behind his eye. The usual method for this procedure was not safe due to the location of the mass, so a new ultrasound-guided technique was used instead. After the nerve block, the dog was monitored during surgery, and while his heart rate increased, it returned to normal after receiving fluids. Following the surgery, he was given a combination of pain medications, and his pain levels were kept low throughout recovery. This approach shows promise for managing pain in dogs undergoing similar surgeries.
People also search for: dog eye surgery pain management · Jack Russell Terrier nerve block · dog surgery heart rate increase · postoperative pain relief for dogs
Abstract
An ultrasound-guided trigeminal nerve block using a coronoid approach was performed in a male neutered Jack Russell Terrier, aged 12 years, undergoing orbital exenteration for a retrobulbar mass. The previously reported temporal approach for this block was contraindicated as the location of the mass risked intersecting the tumour with the needle. With the dog anaesthetized and in left lateral recumbency, a microconvex transducer was placed caudal to the orbital ligament to obtain a transverse view of the pterygopalatine fossa. The angle of the probe was adjusted until the frontal bone and sphenoid complex could be visualized, along with the coronoid process of the mandible. Colour Doppler identified the location of the maxillary artery exiting the skull. A 22 gauge, 38 mm, spinal needle was inserted using an in-plane technique until the tip was near the artery. After negative aspiration, 1.35 mL of 0.75% ropivacaine was injected, with anechoic fluid observed during injection along the fascial plane and around the artery. During surgery, noninvasive arterial blood pressure remained within 20% of baseline values, whereas heart rate (HR) increased from 95 to 118 beats minute, exceeding the 20% threshold. A low dose of intravenous methadone (0.07 mg kg) was administered without effect, and HR normalized following intravenous fluid infusion, consistent with a response to vasodilation rather than nociception. A multimodal analgesic plan (methadone, paracetamol and meloxicam) was implemented and continued postoperatively. Postoperative pain was assessed every 4 hours using the Short Form Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale, with scores remaining below the rescue threshold throughout the postoperative period. This case suggests that the coronoid approach to the trigeminal nerve block is feasible and may be effective as part of a multimodal analgesic approach. Further studies are warranted to evaluate its safety and efficacy in dogs undergoing craniofacial surgery.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41494478/