Hyaluronidase shortens levobupivacaine lumbosacral epidural anaesthesia in dogs

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of hyaluronidase added to levobupivacaine in lumbosacral epidural blockade in dogs. METHODS: Six adult mixed breed dogs (two males and four females) weighing 7 to 14 kg (10.5 ±1.5 kg) and aged two to five years were used. Each dog received both treatments in random order: levobupivacaine alone (LBA; n=6) or levobupivacaine plus hyaluronidase (LBH; n=6) administered in the lumbosacral epidural space. Systemic effects, spread and duration of anaesthesia and motor block were determined before treatment and at predetermined intervals. RESULTS: The duration of local anaesthesia was 90 ±10 minutes (P=0.001) for LBH treatment and 150 ±15 minutes for LBA treatment. In the LBH treatment, anaesthesia reached the T12 to T13 dermatome and in the LBA treatment it reached the T11 to T12 dermatome in all animals in 5 and 15 minutes, respectively. Complete motor blockade was 75 ±12 minutes (P=0.01) and 120 ±15 minutes for LBH and LBA treatments, respectively. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Hyaluronidase added to levobupivacaine significantly shortens the duration of epidural anaesthesia with the same dermatome spread into the epidural space in dogs.