Lumbar erector spinae plane block as part of multimodal analgesia in a polytraumatised cat (Felis catus)

A 5‐year‐old, 4.6 kg, neutered, female, domestic shorthair cat presented with traumatic vertebral fractures and abdominal organ lesions, requiring conservative management followed by laparotomy. Due to inadequate pain control and dysphoria with systemic analgesia, a bilateral erector spinae plane block was performed at L1 and L5 vertebrae using 5 mL of 0.25% ropivacaine containing dexmedetomidine (1 µg/mL), achieving excellent analgesia. Pain recurred 3 hours after the erector spinae plane block. Another erector spinae plane block, with dexmedetomidine (4.6 µg/mL), was performed 2 hours later and provided analgesia for 6.5 hours. A third erector spinae plane block (same doses from the last one) was performed later, resulting in 7.5 consecutive hours of analgesia. Systemic analgesics were gradually reduced and discontinued 2 days later. Interfascial blocks are generally used perioperatively, but may also play a crucial role in critical patients. Sequential erector spinae plane blocks effectively controlled lumbar pain in a polytraumatised cat; dexmedetomidine appeared to increase their duration in a dose‐dependent relationship.