PERIOPERATIVE ANALGESIC MANAGEMENT IN ASIATIC BLACK BEARS (URSUS THIBETANUS) UNDERGOING OPEN CHOLECYSTECTOMY

Eight adult Asiatic black bears (Ursus thibetanus) rescued from bile farms in Vietnam were diagnosed with chronic cholecystitis that required surgical intervention. In addition, these bears exhibited various comorbidities, including cardiovascular changes, chronic kidney disease, degenerative joint disease, obesity, and sarcopenia. The bears were anesthetized for an open midline cholecystectomy using a combination of 3 mg/kg tiletamine/zolazepam, 0.035 mg/kg medetomidine, and 0.05 mg/kg butorphanol administered IM via blowpipe. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen. Butorphanol IV was repeated q90 min, and meloxicam was given SC at the beginning of surgery. An ultrasound-guided one-point transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block with 0.25% bupivacaine (0.2 ml/kg) was performed in order to desensitize the ventral branches of the last thoracic and lumbar spinal nerves, which innervate the abdominal wall. Additionally, 0.1 ml/kg of same injectate was instilled intraperitoneally twice to manage visceral pain. Lidocaine was administered IV as a continuous-rate infusion at a rate of 10 µg/kg/min. Throughout the procedure, all bears received intravenous fluids and systemic antibiotics. In all bears, cardiovascular parameters remained stable during surgery: heart rate 56 ± 9 bpm, respiratory rate 8 ± 3 bpm and mean arterial blood pressure 128 ± 40 mmHg. No cardiovascular response to surgical stimuli was observed. The TAP block was easy to perform, and no complications were observed during or after the block. The overall dose of local anesthetics was maintained within the recommended range for carnivores, with no signs of local anesthetic toxicity observed. All animals recovered well from anesthesia and returned to their husbandry routine within 6 wk postcholecystectomy. This multimodal analgesic approach seemed to have been effective to provide perioperative analgesia in these Asiatic black bears. It was demonstrated to be a safe, cost-effective, and easily implemented protocol.