Continuous Extradural Infusion of Ropivacaine in a Cat with Severe Abdominal Trauma

Continuous extradural infusions (CEIs) provide sustained analgesia, avoiding fluctuations seen with bolus administrations. An extradural catheter was placed in a cat with severe abdominal trauma following a vehicular accident. To provide sustained pain relief, a CEI of 0.5% ropivacaine at 0.18 mg/kg/h or 0.036 mL/kg/h was initiated, resulting in improved analgesia, as shown by lower scores on both the Feline Grimace Scale (FGS) and the Glasgow Composite Measure Pain Scale-Feline (CMPS-Feline). During treatment, the cat developed hypersalivation, which persisted after catheter removal at 72 h. Eventually, the cat's condition deteriorated, with signs of sepsis leading to euthanasia due to a poor prognosis. Potential contributors to the cat's decline included systemic infection, local anaesthetic systemic toxicity, or opioid-related effects. This report describes the placement of an extradural catheter in a cat, highlighting the potential of CEI in feline pain management while emphasising the need for further research on its pharmacokinetics and safety.