Dexmedetomidine constant-rate infusion with additional partial intravenous anesthesia for a dog undergoing partial pancreatectomy for an insulinoma.

Alpha-2 adrenergic agonist use in the anesthetic management of dogs undergoing partial pancreatectomy has been reported, but only as single-bolus administration of medetomidine in the premedication or low-dose constant-rate infusion (CRI) of dexmedetomidine, without other systemic analgesic drugs. A 10-year-old Boston terrier diagnosed with an insulinoma was presented to the Ontario Veterinary College Health Sciences Centre (Guelph, Ontario). The anesthetic management for partial pancreatectomy included a high-dose dexmedetomidine CRI (4 μg/kg per hour) as well as lidocaine and fentanyl CRIs for additional analgesia and minimum alveolar concentration reduction. A low-dose norepinephrine CRI was used to maintain blood pressure and improve cardiac output. Overall, blood glucose concentration was controlled, no adverse effects were detected, and the dog did not develop pancreatitis postoperatively. Anesthetic management with a high-dose dexmedetomidine CRI along with other systemic analgesia has apparently not been reported for dogs presented for partial pancreatectomy due to insulinoma. Key clinical message: A high-dose dexmedetomidine CRI along with other systemic analgesia was successfully used to manage a dog undergoing partial pancreatectomy for an insulinoma.