Complications associated with the use of indwelling epidural catheters in dogs: 81 cases (1996-1999)

Objective-To evaluate complications associated with use of indwelling epidu ral catheters in dogs in a clinical setting. Design-Retrospective clinical study. Animals-81 client-owned dogs. Procedure-Medical records were reviewed for dogs in which a 19-gauge epidur al catheter was placed percutaneously at L-7-S-1 and advanced to the point of maximum efficacy for pain control (between L-7 and T-4, depending on the procedure). Catheters were used to provide perioperative epidural analgesi a during surgeries that included perineal (n = 6), hind limb (33), abdomina l (43), thoracic (5), forelimb (2), and cervical (I)procedures. Results-Catheters were maintained in situ from 1 to 7 days (mean, 2.3 days; median, 2.0 days). Sixty-four dogs did not have complications; 17 dogs had minor complications. Catheter dislodgement was the most common complicatio n (13/80 [16%] dogs). Catheter site contamination without inflammation deve loped in 2 (2.4%) dogs; inflammation at the catheter site developed in 2 (2 .4%) dogs but was not related to duration of time the catheter was in place . Complications were not serious and did not require treatment other than c atheter removal. Dogs that dislodged their catheters were significantly you nger (mean, 2.9 years; median, 2.0 years) than other dogs (mean; 6.2 years; median, 6.0 years). Dogs that received femoral fracture repair dislodged t heir catheters more often (62.5%) than dogs undergoing other procedures (10 .9%). Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-The complication rate associated with te mporary epidural catheterization of dogs appears to be low, and complicatio ns generally are not serious.