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Background: A commonly described analgesic protocol for ovariohysterectomy (OHE) combines systemic opioids, sedatives, and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. However, systemic analgesia does not fully prevent perioperative visceral and somatic pain triggered by the surgical stimulus. Objectives: To compare the analgesic effects and quality of recovery of systemic analgesia with those of a sacrococcygeal epidural injection of lidocaine and morphine in cats undergoing elective OHE. Methods: Twenty domestic female cats were premedicated with dexmedetomidine (0.01 mg kg−1 IM) and alfaxalone (1.5 mg kg−1 IM) and randomly assigned to one of two analgesic protocols: methadone (0.2 mg kg−1 IM) in the control group CTR (n = 10) and methadone (0.1 mg kg−1 IM) + epidural (lidocaine 2% (0.3 mL kg−1) + morphine 1% (0.1 mg kg−1) diluted with NaCl 0.9% to a total volume of 1.5 mL in the SCC-E group (n = 10). General anaesthesia was induced with alfaxalone (1 mg kg−1 IV) and maintained with sevoflurane in 100% oxygen. Non-invasive blood arterial pressure and cardiorespiratory variables were recorded. The quality of recovery was assessed using a simple descriptive scale. Before surgery and 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, and 8 h post-op pain was assessed using the UNESP-Botucatu multidimensional composite pain scale (MCPS) and mechanical nociception thresholds (MNT). The repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to compare groups over time. Comparison between groups was performed using independent samples t-test if the assumption of normality was verified, or the Mann–Whitney test. The chi-square test of independence and exact Fisher’s test were used to compare groups according to recovery quality. Results: Heart rate and systolic arterial pressure increased significantly from baseline values in the CTR group and did not change in the SCC-E group. In the CTR group, MNT and UNESP-Botucatu-MCPS scores increased significantly from baseline for all assessment points and the first 3 h, respectively, whereas this did not occur in the SCC-E group. Conclusions and clinical relevance: Based on our results, the SCC-E administration of lidocaine 2% with morphine 1% is a reasonable option to provide perioperative analgesia in cats submitted to OHE, compared to a systemic protocol alone.

A 7-year-old intact male Boxer was referred to our services at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro, suffering from a persistently erect penis (including the bulbus glandis) that had been exposed for several days. Radiographic and ultrasonographic examinations detected a 5.0 x 3.5 cm mass located dorso-laterally to the urinary bladder. The microbial culture of the mass revealed Staphylococcus spp. At that time, we suspected the involvement of an abscess in the origin of the priapism. Medical and surgical treatments were promptly instituted, which allowed for penile withdrawal into the prepuce; however, the resolution of the penile erection was not accomplished in the following days and penile amputation was required. Histological evaluation of the excised penis revealed extensive infarction of the erectile tissue of the pars longa and bulbus glandis, and also of the blood vessels of the penis. Following penile amputation and antimicrobial therapy, the animal fully recovered. Ultimately, the animal died as a consequence of gastric torsion. At necropsy, some lesions compatible with a previous perforation of the intestinal wall were recorded. The data gathered from the anamnesis, the physical and imaging examinations, along with the post-mortem findings, allowed us to conclude that in this clinical case the primary cause of priapism was a perineal abscess due to bowel perforation.

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