Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Using wound catheters for pain relief after cat surgery
By Kazmir-Lysak, Kristina et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2023·Department of Clinical Diagnostics and Services·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Use of wound infusion catheters for postoperative local anaesthetic administration in cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of cats that underwent various surgeries, including the removal of injection site sarcomas, had wound infusion catheters (WICs) placed to deliver local anesthetics after their procedures. While 22 out of 166 cats experienced minor complications, such as issues with the wound or the delivery of medication, these were mostly self-limiting and not serious. The study found that using more than 2.5 ml of local anesthetic at one time increased the risk of complications. Overall, the use of WICs was considered safe for managing pain in cats post-surgery.
People also search for: cat surgery recovery · local anesthetic complications in cats · wound infusion catheter for cats · cat pain management after surgery
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The present study aimed to document the use of the wound infusion catheter (WIC) following a variety of surgical procedures in cats, investigating complications and risk factors associated with catheter placement or local anaesthetic (LA) administration. METHODS: A retrospective, multicentric study was performed. Medical databases of eight veterinary referral hospitals from 2010 to 2021 were searched to identify records of cats where WICs were used. Information regarding signalment, type of surgery, size and type of WIC placed, and LA protocol used, as well as postoperative complications, were retrieved. RESULTS: One hundred and sixty-six cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Feline injection site sarcoma resection was the most common surgery. Overall complications were identified in 22/166 cats (13.2%). Thirteen cats (7.8%) experienced wound-related complications, whereas nine cats (5.4%) experienced drug-delivery complications. The only factor associated with an increased risk of complications was the amount of a single dose of LA delivered through the catheter ( <0.001). An amount higher than 2.5 ml of LA delivered at each administration was associated with an increased risk of complications. All complications were minor and self-limiting. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE: WICs were used for a large variety of surgical procedures with different protocols of LA administration as part of a multimodal analgesic plan in cats. The risk of complications was relatively low and self-limiting, suggesting its safe use in cats. Further prospective studies are required to evaluate efficacy of postoperative analgesia and to determine the suitable protocol for WIC handling and maintenance.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37713178/