How local anesthetics help reduce postoperative pain

In an interview with dvm360®, Tamara Grubb, DVM, PhD, DACVAA, explains why associates shouldn't be afraid to incorpoate local anesthetic blocks. In an article for the July 2022 issue dvm360®, Grubb shared local analgesic techniques for gonadectomy. A companion article will follow shortly.

A partial transcript of the interview is below. View the video for more of the discussion.

Tamara Grubb, DVM, PhD, DACVAA: Pain management intraoperatively impacts the level of pain postoperatively. And back to the local anesthetics, when we use them intraoperatively, not only does that decrease the pain—or some people call it technically nociception during anesthesia—but the block lasts into recovery. So, they have a much smoother recovery.