Ultrasound-Guided Regional Anesthesia in Small Animal Surgery: Feasibility and Outcomes in Jos Teaching Hospital

Ultrasound-guided regional anesthetic techniques offer the potential for improved nerve block accuracy, reduced systemic anesthetic requirements, and superior postoperative analgesia compared to traditional landmark-based techniques in small animal surgery. This study evaluates the feasibility, technical success rates, and clinical outcomes of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia in dogs and cats undergoing surgical procedures at the University of Jos Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, between July 2022 and June 2024. Forty-five animals assigned to ultrasound-guided regional blocks were compared with 45 animals receiving traditional non-guided locoregional anesthesia for equivalent surgical procedures. Brachial plexus blocks for forelimb surgery and femoral and sciatic nerve blocks for hindlimb procedures were the primary targets. Block success rate, time to perform block, intraoperative analgesic rescue requirements, recovery quality scores, and postoperative pain scores at two, six, and 24 hours were compared. Ultrasound-guided blocks achieved a technical success rate of 91% compared to 71% for landmark-based techniques. Intraoperative analgesic rescue requirements were significantly lower in the ultrasound-guided group. Postoperative pain scores at six and 24 hours were significantly more favorable in the ultrasound-guided cohort. These results demonstrate that ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia is feasible in a Nigerian teaching hospital setting, providing superior analgesia and reducing systemic anesthetic drug requirements, and support its integration into postgraduate veterinary surgical training programs. Keywords: ultrasound-guided nerve block, regional anesthesia, small animal surgery, Plateau State, locoregional analgesia.