Levobupivacaine Combined with Cisatracurium in Peribulbar Anaesthesia in Cats Undergoing Corneal and Lens Surgery

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Regional anaesthesia techniques are widely used for eye surgery and include retrobulbar and peribulbar anaesthesia; they promote adequate positioning of the eyeball. Peribulbar injection of cisatracurium and levobupivacaine provides effective akinesia and mydriasis, and shortens the onset of akinesia by prolonging its duration, without side effects and systemic neuromuscular blockade. ABSTRACT: The aims of the study included evaluating the effects of levobupivacaine combined with cisatracurium on akinesia and mydriasis when administered by peribulbar injection, and evaluating if the chosen dose of cisatracurium is enough to avoid the use of systemic neuromuscular blockade in cats. The animals were divided into four groups as follows: group L received 1.25 mg kg(−1) levobupivacaine administered by peribulbar injection; group LC received the same dose of levobupivacaine combined with 0.01 mg kg(−1) of cisatracurium administered by peribulbar injection; group C received 0.01 mg kg(−1) of cisatracurium administered by peribulbar injection; group GC received 0.01 mg kg(−1) of cisatracurium intravenously. Physiological variables, intraocular pressure, akinesia, and mydriasis were measured before and up to 30 min after peribulbar injection. The onset of akinesia, duration of akinesia, and train of four (TOF) were evaluated. Physiological variables remained in the physiological range in all groups. Effective akinesia and mydriasis were observed in all groups. The (TOF) was 0.9 in all groups. Throughout the study was observed in group LC a shortened onset of akinesia and a prolonging its duration. The peribulbar injection of cisatracurium and levobupivacaine provided effective akinesia and mydriasis, and shortened the onset of akinesia while prolonging its duration.