Anaesthetic & analgesic regime for c-section

Question 1

Anaesthetic regime

Answer 1

Epidural
– procaine (lidocaine can be used on cascade)
– vet preference
– if straining a lot, often rumen comes out of the abdo due to the pressure. - Doesn’t provide v cranial anaesthesia (to the flank) and increases the risk that the animal will go down)

Line block
- quick & easy
- but may not get deeper tissue anaesthesia
- LA at site of anaesthesia not good as can interfere with wound healing)

Paravertebral
- best for penetrating deeper tissues
- reliably anaesthetises deeper tissue and peritoneum
- hard to do esp proximal one esp in big beef cows where landmarks of transverse processes aren’t as obvious
- need big spinal needles to get them deep enough)

Inverted L
- top of L anaesthetising nerves where they leave the spine so more likely to get deeper tissue anaesthesia
- away from site of incision
- takes longer
- uses more LA

Xylazine
- if fractious

Question 2

Analgesic regime

Answer 2

• NSAID – either meloxicam, ketoprofen, carprofen
• Prolonged NSAIDs – 2-3d at least
• Pre-op NSAIDs also.
• Don’t give finadine/flunixin NSAID as is associated with retained foetal membranes
  – But high risk of retained foetal membranes anyway so last choice but if need to give analgesia and have no other options give.

Question 3

Antibiotic use

Answer 3

• If calf dead give ABs – if doubt of time of death or know it was a while ago.
• At least a week, maybe 2 as risk of peritonitis is high
• Also if contamination during surgery give ABs (amoxicillin, oxytet)