Pharmacokinetics of Bupivacaine Following Administration by an Ultrasound-Guided Transversus Abdominis Plane Block in Cats Undergoing Ovariohysterectomy

Bupivacaine is commonly used for peripheral nerve block in veterinary medicine. This study described the pharmacokinetics of two doses of bupivacaine following administration by an ultrasound-guided transversus abdominis plane (TAP) block in cats undergoing ovariohysterectomy. Twelve healthy female adult cats were included in a randomized, prospective, blinded clinical trial. Anaesthetic protocol included acepromazine-buprenorphine-propofol-isoflurane-meloxicam. Each cat received 1 mL/kg of bupivacaine 0.2% or 0.25% (BUPI-2 and BUPI-2.5, respectively) via bilateral two-point TAP block before surgery (n = 6/group). Plasma concentrations of bupivacaine were detected using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A one-compartment model and non-compartmental analysis described the pharmacokinetic parameters. Bupivacaine was detected up to 480 min (335 +/- 76 in BUPI-2 and 485 +/- 198 ng/mL in BUPI-2.5). For BUPI-2 and BUPI-2.5, maximum plasma concentrations were 1166 +/- 511 and 1810 +/- 536 ng/mL at 33 +/- 14 and 47 +/- 22 min, clearance was 5.3 +/- 1.8 and 4.9 +/- 1.5 mL/min/kg, and elimination half-life were 253 +/- 55 and 217 +/- 52 min, respectively. The two doses of bupivacaine via TAP block produced concentrations below toxic levels in cats. A dose of 2.5 mg/kg bupivacaine was safe to be administered using this block in healthy cats.