Comprasion of the effects of epidurally administered bupivacaine and levobupivacaine in dogs

The aim of this study was to determine anesthetic profiles of BP and LP in epidural anaesthesia and to compare their effects on hemodynamic, blood gase, haematologic and biochemical parameters in dogs.In the study, a total of 20 adult male dogs from different breed, reffered to our clinics for castration purposes and allocated in to BP (n=10) and LP (n=10) groups.In the study, doses of 0,5 % agents were epidurally given to both groups. After epidural injection initiation, duration and removal times of motoric and sensoric block were evaluated. At the same time, throughout the epidural anaesthesia heart rate, breathing, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure and body temparature were monitored. Similarly, during the study haematological measurements at 0th, 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 8th hours and biochemical measurements at 0th, 2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th and 24th hours were examined. Simultaneously, blood gases, Na+ and K+ levels in arterial blood samples were measured at 0th, 30th, 60th, 120th and 240th mins. At the 0th, 1th, 2th, 4th, 6th,8th and 24th hours serum cortisol level in venous blood samples were determined. Whether animals experienced the pain during the postoperative period pain evaluation was performed, using Canada Ontario Veterinary College.In the study, the time of the analgesia was 124,9±28,6 min in BP group and 77,5±16,8 min in LP group (p<0,05). Motoric block duration was determined as 248,2±44,2 min for BP group and 185,9±38,08 min for LP group. Motoric and sensorial block time was higher in BP than LP, similarly BP generated sensorial and motoric block in shorter time. In both groups, followed by an epidural anesthesia decreased heart rate and arterial blood pressure were seen. This decline was higher in the BP group. After epidural anesthesia slight decline in respiratory rate and body temperature was observed in both groups.Epiudurally administered BP and LP did not significantly alter the haematological (WBC, RBC, HB, HCT, THR) and biochemical (CK and CK-MB, TP, ALB, AST, GGT, ALT, BUN and CRE) parameters. Plasma cortisol levels in both groups after administration of epidural anesthesia was close to each other, however decreased cortisol levels were determined. In both groups, haematology, biochemistry and arterial blood gas values remained within physiological ranges.In conclusion, motoric and sensorial block time was higher in BP than LP were determined. In addition BP and LP did not significantly affect primarily cardiovascular system, respiratory system functions, however BP was more hypotansive than LP. Both agent did not alter blood gases, haemogram and biochemical parameters. In dogs, it was observed that LP used epidurally has a place in veterinary practice in recent years produced a safe and quality anaesthesia.