Development of an Avian Brachial Plexus Nerve Block Technique for Perioperative Analgesia in Mallard Ducks (Anas platyrhynchos)*

Abstract

Surgical procedures of the wing are commonly performed in companion, captive, and wild avian species. To develop a clinically applicable brachial plexus nerve block technique for perioperative analgesia in birds, 8 adult female mallard ducks (Anas platyrhynchos) were anesthetized and used in several local anesthetic trials with bupivacaine (2 or 8 mg/kg) or a combination of lidocaine (15 mg/kg) and epinephrine (3.8 microg/kg) perineurally; equal volumes of saline were administered as control treatments. Both axillary and dorsal approaches to the brachial plexus were evaluated. With the axillary approach, radial and ulnar compound nerve action potentials (CNAP), sensory nerve conduction velocities (SNCVs), and cord dorsum potentials (CDPs) were recorded after distal sensory nerve stimulation. Values were recorded before and at 5, 30, and 60 minutes after injection of local anesthetic or saline. Birds were monitored for the presence of a wing droop and a change in motor function on recovery from anesthesia. Results were highly variable for all techniques. No technique significantly decreased CDPs or resulted in consistent wing droop. Radial and ulnar CNAPs, SNCVs, and CDPs were consistently recorded in all birds. Variable results might indicate that the treatment, concentration, or volume of local anesthetic used was ineffective in producing local anesthesia. Electrodiagnostic methods used in these ducks to assess loss of sensory nerve conduction might not be sensitive enough to assess the effects of local anesthesia. Further research is needed to identify methods for assessing the efficacy of brachial plexus nerve blockade in birds.

Macroanatomical Aspects of Brachial Plexus and Its Branches in the Indigenous Duck

“…Plexus components are frequently in traumatic episodes, in local and regional anesthetic procedures, and in studies to determine the functional role of red and white fibers during the flight of the poultry. Based on the literature of chicken brachial plexus (Baumel, 1975;Baumel et al, 1993), anesthetic block techniques of brachial plexus have been studied in chicken (Figueiredo et al, 2008;Cardoza et al, 2009) as well as in the duck (Brenner et al, 2010). Although the comprehensive study of brachial plexus in the duck was still lack.…”

Palpation- and ultrasound-guided brachial plexus blockade in Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis)

“…2008; Cardozo et al. 2009; Brenner et al. 2010), prevent pain during surgical treatments (Futema et al.…”

“…2008; Cardozo et al. 2009), mallard duck (Brenner et al. 2010) and, in a clinical case presentation, in the cockatiel ( Nymphicus hollandicus ), a free‐ranging striped owl ( Asio clamator ) and in roadside hawks ( Rupornis manirostris ) (Vilani et al.…”

The macroanatomy of the brachial plexus and its nerves in the common buzzard (Buteo buteo)

“…although numerous studies have been conducted on the anatomy of the brachial plexus in different poultry species, such as: the great horned owl (Moore et al, 1989), the red tailed hawk (Shell et al, 1993), the turkey (MoreIra et al, 2005), cockatiel (MUrPhY and ShIVaPraSaD 2008), chicken (CarDoza et al, 2009), the mallard duck (BreNNer et al, 2010), the Merlin (CeVIk-DeMIrkaN, 2013) and the macaw (FIlho et al, 2014), no study has been conducted so far on the brachial plexus in the common buzzard. For this reason, the aim of this study was to elucidate the macroanatomical properties of the brachial plexus in the common buzzard and to compare the properties with those of other avian species.…”