A Study on Intra-operative and Post-operative Analgesia with Intraperitoneal Ropivacaine and Dexmedetomidine in Pigs

Background: Laparotomy procedure involving caesarean sections, spaying and hernia correction are common in swine. But these animals are not receiving good standard perioperative as well as post-operative care and analgesia. The purpose of this study was to introduce an effective treatment method for the management of surgery related pain in pigs. Methods: Study was conducted in 18 clinical cases of pigs operated for the correction of either umbilical or ventral hernia. The animals were randomly divided into three groups. All the animals were premedicated with meloxicam and anaesthesia was induced and maintained with diazepam-ketamine combination. Intraperitoneal administration of ropivacaine or ropivacaine with dexmedetomidine or normal saline was given in the treatment groups. The animals were observed till 24 hours for the recording of clinical parameters such as time for induction, depth of anaesthesia, perioperative analgesia, muscle relaxation, quality of recovery, recovery time, post-operative analgesia and physiological parameters such as heart rate, respiratory rate, temperature and blood pressure. Result: Enhanced intraoperative and postoperative analgesia was observed following intraperitoneal infusion of ropivacaine and ropivacaine-dexmedetomidine combination in pigs. Clinical and cardio-respiratory changes were within the physiological limit after intraperitoneal administration of the drugs.