A Guide to Performing a Bier’s Block for Cattle: Safety & Efficacy
Table of Contents
Introduction
Lameness resulting from hoof and claw ailments is a major challenge in the dairy and cattle industry, often necessitating surgical intervention. Providing safe, effective, and practical anesthesia is critical for both animal welfare and procedural success.
The Bier’s block for cattle, technically known as Intravenous Regional Anesthesia (IVRA), offers a reliable solution. This technique allows for targeted anesthesia of a limb without requiring full general anesthesia, making it ideal for field conditions. This guide, adapted from a master’s thesis, provides a detailed walkthrough of the materials and methods used in a clinical study, offering a blueprint for performing a safe and effective Bier’s block for cattle.
An Original Excerpt on the Methodology of a Bier’s Block for Cattle
(The following is an excerpt adapted from a thesis for clarity and online readability. The full citation is provided below.)
Key Materials and Methods for a Bier’s Block for Cattle
This study was conducted on the bovine having different surgical ailments of hoof/digit at the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex (TVCC) or the farmer’s doorstep, as per the availability of cases.
Study Design and Animal Grouping for Bovine IVRA
The bovines having foot disease(s) were divided into four groups having six animals/limbs in each group (Table 1). The affected animals were off-fed for overnight and the limb was shaved below the level of the knee/hock for upper IVRA and below the pastern joint for lower IVRA. No premedication was given to any of the animals.
Animals were casted and restrained in lateral recumbency with the affected limb uppermost. The site was prepared aseptically and the area was painted with an antiseptic solution.
Table 1: Distribution of animals and anesthetic used for a Bier’s block for cattle
| Groups | No. of animals or limbs | IVRA Type | Anesthetic Agent(s) | Dose rate (Intravenous) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| I | 6 | Upper | Lignocaine | 4mg/kg |
| II | 6 | Upper | Lignocaine + Ketamine | 4mg/kg + 3.0mg/kg |
| III | 6 | Lower | Lignocaine | 2mg/kg |
| IV | 6 | Lower | Lignocaine + Ketamine | 2mg/kg + 1.5mg/kg |
Step-by-Step Procedure for a Bier’s Block for Cattle
The animals were prepared as per routine surgical procedure. The affected animals were off-fed for overnight and the limb was shaved below the level of the knee/hock for upper IVRA and below the pastern joint for the lower Bier’s block for cattle.
No premedication was given to any of the animals. Animals were casted and restrained in lateral recumbency with the affected limb uppermost. The site was prepared aseptically and the area was painted with antiseptic solution.
Upper IVRA Technique and Tourniquet Placement
Upper IVRA was induced as per the standard technique. For upper IVRA, a tourniquet was placed circumferentially in the middle of the metatarsus/metacarpus (Fig. 1). A butterfly cannula was placed in the radial vein and the anesthetic was injected as per the schedule in Table 1 (Fig. 2).
Lower IVRA Technique for Distal Limb Procedures
For the lower Bier’s block for cattle, an elastic tourniquet was applied just below the pastern joint and distal to the dew claws (Fig. 3a). Then the axial digital vein was catheterized at the bifurcation point using a butterfly cannula no. 22 (Fig. 3b) and under gentle flexion of the fetlock joint, blood was drained through the needle until the pressure dropped as indicated by slow dripping rather than blood running out of the hub.
Anesthesia in different groups of animals was injected as per the above table (Fig. 4). The injection site was compressed with povidone iodine-soaked cotton swab for about 1 minute after removing the needle to avoid unintended drainage of the local anesthetic from the punctured vein or formation of a hematoma. The anesthetic potency was monitored by observing the following parameters.
Monitoring Vital Parameters During a Bier’s Block for Cattle
Consistent monitoring is essential for a safe procedure. The following parameters were tracked:
- Heart rate: The speed of the heartbeat measured by the number of contractions of the heart per minute. Heart rate was taken preoperatively and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 60 till the recovery after the administration of anesthesia.
- Pulse rate: This represents the tactile arterial palpation of the heart beat. It was recorded as beat per minute (bpm). Pulse rate of animals was taken preoperatively and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 60 till the recovery after the administration of anesthesia.
- Respiration rate: It is the measurement of the frequency of breathing. For a healthy animal, it should be 12-18 per minute. It was taken preoperatively and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 60 till the recovery after the administration of anesthesia.
- Peripheral oxygen saturation (SPO2): This is the percentage of hemoglobin binding sites in the blood stream occupied by oxygen. It is measured by a pulse oximeter. The device was applied at the tip of the ear (Fig. 5) and the reading was taken preoperatively and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 60 till the recovery.
- Systolic and Diastolic pressure: Blood pressure was measured by a non-invasive blood pressure monitoring unit and is measured in mmHg (Fig. 6). It was taken preoperatively and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 60 till the recovery after the administration of anesthesia.
Assessing Anesthetic Block Times
To measure the effectiveness of the Bier’s block for cattle, the following onset and recovery times were recorded:
- Sensory block onset time: It is from the time of drug injection to sensory block achieved in all dermatomes. It is the measurement of sensory blockade. It was taken preoperatively and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 60 till the recovery after the administration of anesthesia.
- Motor block onset time: It is the measurement of motor blockade. It was taken preoperatively and at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40 and 60 till the recovery after the administration of anesthesia as per the method described by Kognole et al. (2004).
- Sensory and Motor block recovery time: These were measured after 30 minutes of administration of anesthesia at every 10-minute interval till the recovery after the administration of anesthesia.
- Complication: Any sign and symptom of local anesthesia toxicity like regurgitation, pain, skin rashes, bradycardia, tachycardia, hypotension, and convulsion was vigilantly looked for.
- Statistical analysis: SPSS software version 17.0 was used for data analysis.
Conclusion
The successful execution of a Bier’s block for cattle hinges on a meticulous, step-by-step approach. As detailed in this study’s methodology, proper animal preparation, precise tourniquet application, and accurate cannulation are foundational to the procedure’s safety and efficacy.
Furthermore, diligent monitoring of vital signs and anesthetic block times is not just best practice—it is essential for preempting complications and ensuring the well-being of the animal. This research provides a clear and replicable framework, demonstrating that a Bier’s block for cattle, when performed correctly, is an invaluable tool in veterinary surgery.
Source Citation:
- Researcher: Dr. Vipin Kumar Yadav
- Thesis Title: Comparative Studies on Upper versus Lower Intravenous Regional Anesthesia (IVRA) Using Lignocaine and Its Combination with Ketamine in Bovines
- Guide: Dr. A. K. Gangwar
- University: Narendra Dev University of Agriculture and Technology, Kumarganj, Faizabad (U.P.)-India
- Completion Date: 2018
- Excerpted From: Pages 34-41
Disclaimer:
Disclaimer: Some sentences have been lightly edited for SEO and readability. For the complete and original research, please refer to the full thesis PDF above.
Does this procedural guide align with your clinical experience? Share your own tips or ask questions about performing a Bier’s block for cattle in the comments below. Don’t forget to share this article with colleagues and students who may find it useful
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