The Effect of Neuromuscular Blockade on Canine Laparoscopic Ovariectomy: A Double-Blinded, Prospective Clinical Trial

Objective To evaluate the effect of neuromuscular blockade (NMB) on surgical time and various anesthetic variables during laparoscopic ovariectomy in dogs. Study Design Prospective, double‐blinded, randomized clinical trial. Animals Female dogs (n = 40). Methods Laparoscopic ovariectomy by bipolar electrocoagulation was performed by 1 surgeon using a standardized protocol, where 1 ovary was removed under NMB, and the other without NMB. Surgical and anesthetic (respiratory and circulatory) variables were recorded for predetermined procedural stages and were statistically evaluated. Results Mean total surgical time was 25.1 ± 6.3 minutes (range, 16–47 minutes). With NMB, mean duration of surgical excision of the ovary (5.7 ± 2.3 minutes) was not significantly changed compared to ovariectomy without NMB (5.9 ± 1.9 minutes). Arterial blood pressure was the only recorded anesthetic variable that significantly changed under NMB (5% decrease). Occurrence of intraoperative complications did not differ. In obese dogs, total surgical time was increased by 22%. Other variables, including occurrence of intraoperative mesovarial bleeding did not influence surgical duration. Conclusions NMB did not significantly improve laparoscopic ovariectomy times and except for a 5% decrease in arterial blood pressure did not change any of the evaluated anesthetic and surgical variables.