Ultrasound-Guided Thoracic Paravertebral, Erector Spinae Plane and Quadratus Lumborum Blocks During Emergency Laparotomy in Dogs: A Multicenter Retrospective Study

Emergency laparotomy in dogs is associated with nociceptive stimulation and is frequently performed in animals with cardiovascular compromise. In these cases, minimizing systemic opioid administration while maintaining effective analgesia may be clinically advantageous. This retrospective multicenter observational study evaluated three ultrasoundguided regional anesthesia techniques performed using ropivacaine—thoracic paravertebral, erector spinae plane, and quadratus lumborum blocks—and compared them with systemic analgesia alone. Dogs receiving regional anesthesia required less intraoperative rescue fentanyl than those managed without a regional block, while block-related technical complications were uncommon. These findings support the use of ultrasound-guided regional anesthesia as part of a multimodal analgesic strategy for selected dogs undergoing emergency laparotomy.