Document Type : Original Article
Authors
1
Department of Clinical Studies, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Saudi Arabia.
2
Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia.
3
Department of Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa, KSA.
4
Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, New Valley University, Al kharga, New Valley 27511, Egypt.
Abstract
Regional anesthesia techniques have gained increasing recognition as safe and effective alternatives to general anesthesia in dromedary camels, particularly for field-based surgical procedures. This systematic review evaluates current practices in camel regional anesthesia, with emphasis on anatomical considerations, technique efficacy, and clinical applications. We conducted a comprehensive literature search across PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science databases, identifying 63 relevant studies (28 cadaveric, 31 clinical trials, 4 anatomical studies) that met our inclusion criteria. Our analysis demonstrates that ultrasound-guided techniques achieve significantly higher success rates for head blocks (91.7% ± 5.2%) compared to traditional blind methods (63.4% ± 11.8%), while reducing complication rates by 74-83%. For limb anesthesia, the four-point manus block technique shows 87.5% efficacy in cadaveric studies, with optimal injection sites identified 8-12 cm distal to key anatomical landmarks. Epidural anesthesia protocols reveal that lidocaine-xylazine combinations provide the longest duration of analgesia (175 ± 8.7 minutes), albeit with associated cardiovascular effects requiring monitoring. Key anatomical variations affecting technique success include thicker connective tissue, deeper nerve locations, and distinct branching patterns compared to other ruminants. This review highlights the clinical advantages of image-guided regional anesthesia in camels while identifying critical knowledge gaps, particularly regarding long-term outcomes and standardized protocols. The findings provide evidence-based recommendations and underscore the need for species-specific technique optimization in camel anesthesia practice.
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