Anaesthesia, analgesia and cardiovascular support in a Kunekune pig undergoing a complicated umbilical hernia repair

This report describes the peri-operative anaesthesia and analgesia management of a 5-year-old Kunekune pig undergoing surgical correction of an umbilical hernia. Premedication with azaperone (1 mg/kg), xylazine (0.5 mg/kg), butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg) and ketamine (5 mg/kg) intramuscularly preceded induction of anaesthesia with ketamine (2 mg/kg) intravenously. General anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen. Analgesia was supported intraoperatively by a transversus abominis plane block with lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg), and a ketamine (10 mu g/kg/min) infusion intravenously. Crystalloid fluid boluses and atropine intravenously were administered, and mechanical ventilation was stopped to aid correction of hypotension. Post-operative analgesia was supported with a continuous infusion of ketamine (5 mu g/kg/min) intravenously, butorphanol (0.2 mg/kg) intravenously every 6 hours, paracetamol (10 mg/kg) intravenously orally every 8 hours and meloxicam (0.4 mg/kg) intravenously orally every 24 hours. The pig made progressive clinical improvement and was discharged 7 days after the surgery.