THE EFFECT OF WOUND IRRIGATION WITH BUPIVACAINE ON POSTOPERATIVE ANALGESIA OF THE FELINE ONYCHECTOMY PATIENT

Eighteen cats that each underwent an elective onychectomy were evaluat ed using a double-blind study design to determine if wound irrigation with bupivacaine prior to wound closure would decrease postoperative p ain. The cats were divided alternately into an experimental group (n=9 ) and a control group (n=9). The experimental patients received bupiva caine in each incision prior to closure. The control patients received saline in each incision prior to closure. The patients were evaluated for postoperative pain using a pain-score system. The bupivacaine-tre ated patients had a significantly higher mean pain score at two hours following recovery from anesthesia than the saline-treated patients. A t three hours following recovery from anesthesia, pain scores were not significantly different.