Abstract
For epidural anesthesia, injection was made in a dog at the lumbosacral space. This space exists in the interarcuate foramen, formed by the seventh lumbar vertebra and the sacrum. This foramen is wide (Fig. 2). Therefore, epidural puncture can be performed easily. The spinal cord is large in diameter at the level of the lumbosacral plexuses, but is reduced markedly at the level of the fifth and sixth lumbar vertebrae. It terminates in the conus medullaris at the level of the seventh lumbar vertebra. So that no injury of the spinal cord is induced practically by puncture with the needle.
The distance between the surface of the skin and the spinal canal is as follows:
Body weight Distance 5kg 1.9-2.5cm 10 2.6-3.3 15 2.9-3.8 20 4.0-4.5
Four per cent procaine solution and 2 per cent xylocaine solution are local anesthetics of choice for this procedure. The dose used was 0.4 cc per kilogram of body weight. Usually, satisfactory anesthesia developed in five minutes and lasted about one hour.
The anesthetized area extended from abdomen to hindleg by a single injection. No side effects have been observed during or following the procedure. Postanesthetic troubles, such as an overdose or unfortunate reaction of barbiturates, are avoided by the use of epidural anesthesia.
