August 2009

New anesthesia service available for CUHA patients

dog Peripheral Nerve Blocks are used extensively by human anesthesiologists to provide intra- and post-operative pain control in patients. With a growing emphasis on improving pain management in veterinary medicine, these procedures are now being adapted to veterinary patients with positive results.

These procedures have widespread applications and can be used to control the pain that may be associated with many common surgical procedures. Studies have shown that peripheral nerve blocks not only provide superior pain control when compared with systemic opioids, but also help patients recover quicker from surgery.

"These techniques are so effective that we are even performing some surgeries such as cruciate surgery in the dog under conscious sedation and not general anesthesia," said Dr. Luis Campoy, who is adapting many of these techniques to our veterinary patients and is a lecturer in Anesthesiology.

The success of a nerve block is dependent on placing local anesthetic solution in close proximity to the appropriate nerve. Techniques for peripheral nerve localization vary. Electrostimulation has been considered the "gold standard" technique for peripheral nerve localization. However, ultrasound-guided techniques, used in conjunction with electrostimulation, are gaining popularity. The advantages of ultrasound include the ability to visualize and manipulate the needle under direct observation and the ability to monitor the spread of the local anesthetic solution, as it is being injected.

"Peripheral nerve blockade is a relatively new procedure that significantly improves the ability to manage patient pain," said Dr. Campoy. "The procedure has many advantages over more traditional pain management techniques, including reducing the amount of anesthetic required during surgery and superior post-operative pain relief. In the past, it has been very challenging to try to teach these procedures to students, residents, and veterinarians".

To address this need, faculty and staff at the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine have pioneered a new multimedia approach to developing and strengthening procedural skills in veterinary medicine. A team of professionals, including Dr. Jodi Korich, director of Partners in Animal Health; Dr. Luis Campoy, lecturer of Anesthesiology; and Dr. Abraham Bezuidenhout, senior lecturer of anatomy, created a DVD course on Peripheral Nerve Blocks in the Dog. Accredited by the RACE American Association of Veterinary State Boards, the course is a six-hour, self-paced training DVD that focuses on peripheral nerve blocks in the dog, an approach that Dr. Luis Campoy helped to pioneer in veterinary medicine.

The multimedia DVD course includes a variety of 3D models, videos, and interactive objects, providing an immersive learning experience. Copies of the DVD course may be purchased online at www.partnersah.vet.cornell.edu/product for $389.