Proceeding of Veterinary and Animal Science Days 2016, 8th- 10th June, Milan, Italy 

HAF © 2013 

Vol. III, No. 1s  ISSN: 2283-3927 

   

 

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Keywords 

Nerve block, electrolocation, 

mandibulectomy, analgesia 

 

CORRESPONDING AUTHOR 

Elisa Silvia D’Urso 

elisasilvia.durso@unimi.it 

 

JOURNAL HOME PAGE 

riviste.unimi.it/index.php/haf 

Proximal mandibular nerve block using 

electrolocation in 10 dogs undergoing 

mandibular surgery: a case series report. 

 

G. Ravasioa, E.S. D’Ursoa*, C. Macchionia, D. Stefanelloa 

 

 

 

aDepartment of Veterinary Medicine, Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 

10, 20133, Milan, Italy 

Abstract 

Peripheral nerve block performed using electrical stimulation (i.e. electrolocation) is widely used for 

perioperative pain management during several surgical procedures in dogs (Campoy 2008), but few 

data are reported concerning its application to invasive maxillofacial surgery (Carotenuto et al 2011). 

The aim of this case series report is to evaluate the efficacy of proximal mandibular nerve block (PMNB) 

in perioperative pain management in dogs undergoing mandibulectomy. Ten dogs of various breeds, 

(six spayed females and four neutered males of 10.353.09 years and mean weight of 19.5615.19 kg) 

presenting either neoplasia or mandibular fracture and scheduled for mandibulectomy were 

premedicated with intramuscular acepromazine maleate (0.02 mg/kg); after induction of general 

anaesthesia, bilateral PMNB was performed with ropivacaine 0.75% (2 mg/kg) inserting the stimulated 

needle in temporomandibular joint direction. Whenever intraoperative nociception occurred, 

intravenous rescue analgesia was provided (fentanyl 3 g/kg). Carprofen was administered 

subcutaneously as a sole postoperative treatment (3 mg/kg) and postoperative analgesia was assessed 

for at least 24 hours by a blind operator, accordingly to the Glasgow composite pain scale (Reid et al 

2007); when it overcame a threshold of 5/24, intravenous rescue analgesia was administered 

(methadone, 0.2 mg/kg). In eight out of ten dogs no intraoperative nociception was shown, while in 

two dogs a single intravenous fentanyl administration was sufficient to provide additional analgesia. No 

acute and medium term complications were observed and postoperative analgesia lasted for 20.5±6.1 

hours. PMNB seems to provide effective perioperative long-lasting analgesia leading to a reduction in 

intra- and postoperative drug administration. 
 

References 

Carotenuto AM, Ravasio G, Fonda D, Stefanello D 2011. Proximal mandibular nerve block, using electrolocation, for rostral mandibulectomy in a geriatric dog. Can 

Vet J. May;52(5):515-8. 

Campoy L 2008. Fundamentals of Regional Anesthesia Using Nerve Stimulation in the Dog. In: Recent Advances in Veterinary Anes thesia and Analgesia: 

Companion Animals, Gleed R.D. and Ludders J.W. (Eds.). International Veterinary Information Service, Ithaca NY  

Reid J, Nolan AM, Hughes JML, Lascelles D, Pawson P, Scott EM 2007. Development of the short -form Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale (CMPS-SF) and 

derivation of an analgesic intervention score. Animal welfare, 16(S): 97-104 

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/deed.en