Incidence and severity of short-term incisional complications after intraoperative local infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine in dogs.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To report the incidence of short-term incisional complications in dogs receiving intraoperative local infiltration of liposomal bupivacaine. STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs (n&#xa0;=&#xa0;218). METHODS: Medical records were searched for dogs whose surgical site was infiltrated with liposomal bupivacaine. Records were reviewed for complications within 20&#x2009;days postoperatively. Cases were categorized by: (1) surgical wound classification (clean, clean-contaminated, contaminated); (2) labeled versus off-label use in orthopedic surgery - stifle surgery to address cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) disease versus other orthopedic procedures; and (3) orthopedic versus soft-tissue surgery. RESULTS: Complications were documented in 43/218 (19.7%) records, including 27/218 (12.4%) complications that resolved spontaneously or with topical treatment. The incidence of short-term incisional complications did not differ between surgical wound classifications (P&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.55) or between labeled versus off-label use in orthopedic surgery (P&#xa0;=&#xa0;0.21). Complications seemed more common after soft-tissue procedures (32/123; 26.0%) than orthopedic procedures (11/95; 11.6%) (P&#x2009;<&#x2009;0.01). CONCLUSION: Surgical wound classification or type of orthopedic procedure did not seem to influence incisional complications of infiltrated surgical sites. Complications were more common after soft-tissue procedures than orthopedic procedures. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Infiltration of surgical sites with liposomal bupivacaine seems safe in a broader range of orthopedic procedures than currently labeled. The results also justify further investigation in soft-tissue surgery.