ABSTRACT: Regional anaesthesia is more commonly used on the pelvic limb than on the thoracic limb. It has potential complications and side effects but can allow us to provide the most effective form of analgesia for many patients for whom it might otherwise be difficult to manage their pain Part three of this series reviews the local anaesthesia techniques available for the pelvic limb, including epidurals, and the postoperative nursing care these patients will require.

Previous articles in this series discussed how local anaesthesia works within the body to block the transmission of sensory pain impulses. Often patients undergoing procedures on the pelvic limbs have chronic conditions and are, therefore, already in pain. These techniques will support the patient through the perioperative period and other analgesia plans will be devised to manage pain at other times.

The pelvic limbs are innervated by two nervous plexuses – the lumbar and sacral nerves.

Author

Mary Barker BSc (Hons) RVN

Mary graduated from the Royal Veterinary College in 2010. She worked in charity practice before moving to the Queen Mother Hospital as an anaesthesia nurse in 2011. She is currently working towards her NCert in Anaesthesia.

Keywords: Clinical, Anaesthesia, Pelvic

To cite this article: Veterinary Nursing Journal • VOL 29 (04) • April 2014 • pp133-135

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