Patients in need of cranial cruciate ligament repair or patellar luxation repair are eligible to participate.
The Center for Animal Referral and Emergency Services (CARES), in Langhorne, is participating in a new pain management study in conjunction with the anesthesia department at the University of Pennsylvania. The study will directly compare the efficacy of two treatments used to deal with intra-operative and post-operative pain.
Canine referral patients in need of cranial cruciate ligament repair or patellar luxation repair are eligible to participate, provided they are systemically healthy and have no contraindications to epidurals. Permission from pet owners will be necessary to participate.
Surgeries will take place at CARES utilizing the CARES surgical team. Eligible patients will be assigned to one of two treatment groups. One group will receive an epidural prior to surgery. The other group will receive a sciatic and femoral nerve block prior to surgery. Dr. Andrea Caniglia, anesthesia resident at Penn, will assist with anesthesia for these cases and will determine if the two treatments are equally effective in dealing with pain before and after surgery.
While both pain management techniques have proven efficacy in hind limb procedures, this will be the first time a study has compared them directly in dogs. It is important for referring veterinarians and eligible participants to note that all patients will be provided with adequate analgesia during the study. The cost of the epidural and nerve block will be funded by Penn.
The study is expected to begin by late October 2009. If you would like more information about the study or to find out if your referral patient is eligible, please contact David Puerto, DVM, DACVS at CARES. The phone number is: 215-750-2774.
Thank you for your time!
CARES
2010 Cabot Blvd. West Suite D
Langhorne, PA 19047
Tel (215) 750-2774
Fax (215) 750-3623
www.vetcares.com
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