Use of a surgical drain for continuous postoperative trigeminal nerve block in a dog.

Abstract

A male, neutered, mixed-breed dog, aged 12 years, was referred for a left mandibulectomy resulting from the recurrence of a squamous cell carcinoma in the vertical ramus of the left mandible. Preoperative pain management consisted of methadone 0.2 mg kgintravenously and an ultrasound-guided trigeminal nerve block with bupivacaine. Intraoperatively, a Jackson-Pratt drain connected to a continuous suction bulb was placed in the vicinity of the trigeminal nerve for postoperative bupivacaine delivery and exudate drainage. Bupivacaine 0.13% was delivered every 4 hours along with subcutaneous meloxicam (0.2 mg kg, followed by 0.1 mg kgevery 24 hours). No opioid rescue analgesia was needed postoperatively based on the short-form Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale. The dog began eating voluntarily 4 hours after surgery without signs of pain or discomfort. The drain was removed after 24 hours and the dog was discharged 24 hours postoperatively with oral meloxicam.