Lidocaine is a local anesthetic commonly used in equine medicine to manage pain and perform minor surgical procedures. It functions by blocking sodium channels, which inhibits nerve impulse conduction and results in temporary loss of sensation in targeted areas. In horses, lidocaine is utilized for various applications, including nerve blocks, epidural anesthesia, and as an adjunct in pain management protocols. Its pharmacokinetics, efficacy, and safety profile in equine patients are subjects of ongoing research. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the pharmacological properties, clinical applications, and potential side effects of lidocaine in horses.
Mahalingam-Dhingra A, Bedenice D, South A, Minuto J, Robins TJ, Trautwein V, Larkin M, Wagner B, Mazan MR.Corticosteroids are the main pharmacologic treatment for equine asthma (EA) but may have adverse effects in metabolically unstable horses. Recent pilot studies support the use of nebulized lidocaine as an alternative treatment option. Objective: Nebulized lidocaine will improve EA-associated clinical variables and airway inflammation. Methods: Twenty client-owned horses diagnosed with EA. Methods: Randomized, blinded, in-hospital study comparing 1 mg/kg preservative-free 4% lidocaine (n = 10) nebulized via Flexineb (twice daily for 7 doses) to 0.9% saline control (n = 10). Clinical examin...
Henderson AR, Valverde A, Côté N, Sanchez A, Arroyo LG, Gu Y, Johnson R.To compare cardiopulmonary variables and recovery scores in isoflurane-anesthetized horses undergoing arthroscopy using two different intravenous (IV) lidocaine constant rate infusions (CRIs; 50 or 100 μg kg minute) under intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) or spontaneous ventilation (SV). Methods: Prospective, randomized, clinical study. Methods: A group of 30 client-owned horses, 8-156 months old (range), with body masses of 280-550 kg. Methods: Anesthesia protocol consisted of xylazine, ketamine and diazepam, and maintenance with isoflurane and a CRI of dexmedetomidine. All g...
Sobhy A, Nomir AG, Hamed MA, Abumandour MMA, El-Kammar M.The current study was prepared to compare the efficacy of xylazine-lidocaine HCl and detomidine-lidocaine HCl following caudal epidural injection in horses, evaluating sedation, analgesia, physiological parameters, and hemato-biochemical values. This study was applied to six healthy adult horses (300-350 kg, > 4 years of age). The horses were randomly divided into two equal groups. Group 1 (seven horses) received xylazine (0.17 mg/kg bwt) + lidocaine HCl (0.06 mg/kg bwt), while Group 2 received detomidine (0.03 mg/kg bwt) + lidocaine HCl (0.06 mg/kg bwt) via caudal epidural inje...
Bardhi A, Barbarossa A, Joubert A, Gehring R, Lambertini C, Romagnoli N.Dried blood spot (DBS) sampling has emerged as a promising microsampling technique in biomedical and clinical research, offering advantages such as reduced invasiveness, minimal blood volume requirements, and enhanced analyte stability. Although well established in human medicine for neonatal screening and diagnostic applications, its potential in veterinary pharmacology remains underexplored. This study investigated the feasibility of using DBS samples to quantify anesthetic agents-ketamine and medetomidine in cats and lidocaine in horses-during routine surgical procedures at a veterinary tea...
Garcia LL, Vicentini YF, Nagashima JK, de Souza AF, Pereira MAA, da Silva LCLC, Fantoni DT.To assess the sublingual microcirculation in horses anesthetized with isoflurane and undergoing constant rate infusion of dexmedetomidine (DEX) and lidocaine (LID). Unassigned: 16 horses undergoing arthroscopy were included in a blind, randomized study comparing 2 groups: a DEX group (DEX-LID; 1.75 μg·kg-1·h-1 with a LID bolus of 1.3 mg·kg-1 followed by a continuous infusion of 0.05 mg·kg-1·min-1) and a LID-only group (LID; at the same dose). Hemodynamic variables, including mean, systolic, and diastolic blood pressure; heart rate; capnography; blood gas analysis; blood lactate; and orth...
Holley L, Creasey HN, Bedenice D, Reed S, Romualdo da Silva DR, Trautwein V, Mazan M, Widmer G.Glucocorticosteroids remain the most common pharmaceutical approach for the treatment of equine asthma but can be associated with significant side effects, including respiratory microbiome alterations. The goal of the study was to assess the impact of 2% lidocaine nebulization, a projected alternative treatment of equine asthma, on the healthy equine respiratory microbiota. A prospective, randomized, controlled, blinded, 2-way crossover study was performed, to assess the effect of 1 mg/kg 2% lidocaine (7 treatments over 4 days) on the equine respiratory microbiota compared to control horses (s...
Henderson ARP, Valverde A, Koenig J, Sears W.The objective of this prospective study was to investigate whether repeated consecutive general anesthesia in horses undergoing 2 different anesthetic protocols could lead to improved recovery scores. Six healthy female Standardbred horses (453 ± 57 kg; 6.5 ± 4.2 y old) underwent 4 anesthetic protocols over 12 to 13 wk. Procedures 1 and 4 were arthroscopic surgeries [induction: xylazine, diazepam, and ketamine; and maintenance: Fe'Isoflurane (1.1%), lidocaine (2 mg/kg body weight [BW], 50 to 100 μg/min per kg BW), dexmedetomidine (2.5 μg/h per kg BW)]. Procedures 2 and 3 were preparation f...
Bishop RC, Nobrega AD, Mersich I, Wilkins PA.To describe indications for and demonstrate the technique to perform a transtracheal aspirate in horses. Transtracheal aspirate is indicated to collect samples for cytology and bacteriologic culture in cases of suspected pneumonia or other lower respiratory tract disease. Methods: 1 healthy university-owned horse was used for demonstration purposes. Images of clinical case samples from the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital are shown. Methods: The horse is restrained and sedated with detomidine or xylazine to facilitate restraint and butorphanol to minimize coughing. The ventr...
Sousa LN, Winter IC, Varela DD, Luvison EZ, Guzmán JFC, Machado AMV, Figueiredo RDV, Pena GT, Dos Santos ACS, Faleiros RR, Carvalho AM.The present study involved seven horses in a randomized crossover clinical trial to evaluate the effect of lidocaine on horses with induced endotoxemia. Horses received intravenous lidocaine (1.5 mg/kg bolus, followed by 0.05 mg/kg bwt/min) or placebo (0.9% sodium chloride at the same manner) one hour before LPS administration (0.03 μg/kg, IV infusion over 30 min). We monitored clinic and hematologic parameters, abdominal auscultation, ultrasound, and pain over time. No relevant clinical differences existed between treatments regarding peristalsis, abdominal pain, or any other parameters befo...
Kiesse O, Torgerson P, Pot SA, Stadler S.A retrospective data analysis was performed on 17 eyes from 13 horses which underwent a sub-Tenon's injection to facilitate phacoemulsification or pars plana vitrectomy under general anesthesia between 2018 and 2022. All procedures were performed by the same veterinary ophthalmologist. Seven eyes received a sub-Tenon's dose of 7 ml lidocaine (XylocainÒ, 2 % lidocaine hydrochloride, Germany, Aspen Germany GmbH), and 10 eyes received 7 ml mepivacaine (MepinaestÒ purum 2 %, mepivacaine hydrochloride, Switzerland, Gebro Pharma GmbH). Statistical analysis compared onset and duration of gl...
Pratt S, Sole-Guitart A, de Klerk K, Evans E, Hume J, Palmieri C, Rainger J, Goodwin W.Post-traumatic distal limb wounds cause discomfort and heal gradually by second intention. The topical application of Tri-Solfen (lidocaine hydrochloride, bupivacaine hydrochloride, adrenaline acid tartrate and cetrimide [LBAC]) produces effective postsurgical cutaneous analgesia in lambs, calves and piglets; however, its effect on wounds in horses is unknown. The antinociceptive effect, measured by mechanical threshold (MT), and the wound healing impacts of LBAC compared with saline were investigated on surgically created 20 × 20 mm distal limb wounds in 10 horses. Treatment was applied once...
Tooley ZC, Eaton JS, Grant-Counard SM, Ilkenhans SM, Hetzel SJ, Bartholomew KJ.To compare the efficacy of low-volume (5-mL) locoregional retrobulbar anesthesia ("retrobulbar block") by use of 3 commercial local anesthetic formulations. Methods: 8 healthy adult mares. Methods: A block-randomized, masked, controlled design was used. A single ultrasound-guided retrobulbar block was performed with 2% lidocaine, 2% mepivacaine, or 0.5% bupivacaine (n = 5 eyes/group). Contralateral eyes served as untreated controls. End points performed at baseline and time intervals up to 24 hours postblock included the following: assessment of neurophthalmic reflexes/responses, intraocular p...
Straticò P, Guerri G, Bandera L, Celani G, Di Nunzio L, Petrizzi L, Varasano V.(1) The main goals of general anesthesia include pain management and a safe anesthetic protocol for smooth recovery. In this retrospective study, we compared two anesthetic protocols for general anesthesia with isoflurane during emergency laparotomy: sedation with xylazine and the intraoperative infusion of lidocaine (X group) versus medetomidine as a preoperative sedation and intraoperative infusion (M group). (2) The medical records of horses who underwent emergency laparotomies between 2016 and 2023 were reviewed. According to the anesthetic protocol, patients were allocated to the X or M g...
Fernandez-Barrientos MA, Flynn H, Ratliff B, Kilcoyne I.To highlight the use of procainamide as a potential alternative treatment modality in cases of ventricular tachycardia that are refractory to lidocaine and magnesium sulfate. Methods: 1 adult horse weighing 380 kg. Unassigned: A 25-year-old Arabian gelding presented with severe colic signs. Due to persistent pain, it was elected to carry out an exploratory laparotomy. During the procedure a diagnosis of severe, unstable ventricular tachycardia was made based on the ECG findings, with an initial heart rate of 195 beats per minute and severe hypotension. Results: Initial treatment consisted of d...
Lambertini C, Spaccini F, Mazzanti A, Spadari A, Lanci A, Romagnoli N.In horses, lidocaine infusion is administered intraoperatively for analgesia and for a reduction of inhalant anaesthetic requirement. The objective of the study was to describe the anaesthetic effects of lidocaine infusion in isoflurane anaesthetised foals. Unassigned: Twelve foals (<3 weeks old) undergoing surgery were included in the study (LIDO group). Foals were premedicated with midazolam and butorphanol IV, anaesthesia was induced with ketamine and propofol IV and maintained with isoflurane. Lidocaine was administered intraoperatively at 0.05 mg/kg/min. Also, the anaesthetic records o...
Dzikiti TB, Maney JK, Thorogood J, Segabinazzi L, Peterson E, Dzikiti LN, Escobar A.Intravenous infusions of alpha-2 adrenoceptor sedatives and opioids can potentially facilitate surgery in donkeys while standing. Literature on this subject matter is scant. Objective: Evaluation of efficacy of sedation from α -adrenoceptors (dexmedetomidine or xylazine) and butorphanol during ovariectomy in standing donkeys. Methods: Randomised, masked in vivo experiment. Methods: Thirteen female donkeys were sedated with butorphanol (0.05 mg/kg bwt followed by 0.5 mg/kg bwt/h) IV. Concomitantly, 6 of the 13 jennies were sedated with dexmedetomidine 2.5 mcg/kg bwt followed by 2.5 mcg...
Pereira GF, Fenelon ACG, Horr M, Nogueira GM, Delfiol DJZ.The analysis of cerebrospinal fluid has diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic value in neurological illnesses in horses. There are different methods for obtaining cerebrospinal fluid, with the collection between the C1 and C2 vertebrae being a more recent methodology, which allows the procedure to be performed in standing patients, without the limitations of general anesthesia and with a low contamination of the sample with blood, presenting itself as a practical alternative. This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of a local dural blockade in healthy horses submitted to cerebrospinal f...
Rockow M, Griffenhagen G, Landolt G, Hendrickson D, Pezzanite L.Recognition of antimicrobial resistance in equine practice has increased over the past decade. The objective of this study was to provide an updated retrospective review of antimicrobial regimens in one tertiary referral hospital and to evaluate the association with postoperative complications. A secondary objective was to evaluate other perioperative factors including surgical procedure, anesthetic and recovery parameters, and the effect of perioperative medications on complications and outcomes. A computerized search of medical records was performed to identify horses undergoing exploratory ...
Webster A, Pezzanite L, Hendrickson D, Griffenhagen G.Equine practitioners frequently inject local anaesthetics (LA) intra-articularly in both diagnosis of lameness and for pain management intra- or post-operatively with synovial endoscopy. Recent reviews of the human and veterinary literature support the concept that chondrotoxicity of LA on joint tissues depends on the type of drug, dose administered, and duration of exposure. The purpose of this review is to summarise the current literature describing intra-articular local anaesthetic use, including both in vitro and in vivo studies, and to draw some comparisons to literature from other specie...
Knych HK, Katzman S, McKemie DS, Arthur RM, Blea J.Lidocaine is a local anesthetic that is sometimes administered in combination with epinephrine. The addition of epinephrine increases the time lidocaine remains at the site of administration, thus prolonging the duration of effect. Due to their potential to prevent the visual detection of lameness, the administration of local anesthetics is strictly regulated in performance and racehorses. Recent reports of positive regulatory findings for lidocaine in racehorses suggests a better understanding of the behavior of this drug is warranted. The objective of the current study was to describe serum ...
Ruíz-López P, Cuypers C, Schauvliege S.This retrospective study investigated the effect of a xylazine infusion on heart rate; mean arterial pressure; blood gases; anesthetic and dobutamine requirements; recovery quality and duration; percentage of death/survival; and days to die/discharge in horses after colic surgery under partial intravenous anesthesia with isoflurane and lidocaine infusion. Anesthetic records of equine colic surgery were reviewed from similar periods in 2020-2021 and 2021-2022. In both groups, after sedation with xylazine 0.7 mg/kg intravenously (IV) and induction with ketamine 2.2 mg/kg and midazolam 0.06 mg/kg...
Minaldi MP, Fidler LE, Betbeze CM, Wills R, Fontenot RL, Telle MR.To evaluate corneal sensitivity and acute side effects following application of ropivacaine hydrochloride 0.5% and lidocaine hydrochloride 2% on the healthy equine cornea. Ropivacaine and lidocaine similarly decreased corneal sensitivity when applied topically without clinically evident short-term ocular side effects. Lidocaine may be preferable in clinical settings due to its large, multi-use vials and similar effects to ropivacaine.
Gonzalez GA, Betbeze C, Wills R, Eddy A, Mochal-King C, Fontenot RL.To evaluate corneal sensitivity and adverse events following subconjunctival administration of three local anesthetics in horses. Methods: Randomized, masked, crossover study. Methods: Twelve healthy adult mares. Methods: The subconjunctival space of the treated eye was injected with 0.2 mL of liposomal bupivacaine (1.3%), ropivacaine (0.5%), or mepivacaine (2%). All horses received each medication once and the contralateral eye received saline (control). Corneal touch threshold (CTT) was measured using a Cochet-Bonnet esthesiometer before sedation, after sedation, and at specified intervals...
Dos Santos GC, Di Filippo PA, da Fonseca LA, Quirino CR.The purpose of this study was to compare the extent of inflammation response in the middle carpal joints of healthy horses following intra-articular injection of 2% lidocaine, 0.5% bupivacaine, or 0.9% saline solution. The right middle carpal joint of 20 horses was injected with 5 mL of 0.5% bupivacaine (GB, n = 10) or 5 mL of 2% lidocaine (GL, n = 10). The left middle carpal joint of horses was used as a control (5 mL 0.9% saline). Serum and synovial fluid (SF) were aseptically collected before and at predetermined times after each injection. Serum and synovial fluid protein, albumin, tra...
Launois T, Hontoir F, Dugdale A, Dedieu M, Vandeweerd JM.Horses with recurrent uveitis can be treated by intravitreal injection of low dose gentamicin under sedation and after local anesthetic techniques including the retrobulbar nerve block. Since it is reported that retinal degeneration can be secondary to an acute increase of intraocular pressure (IOP), the current randomized controlled study was carried out in order to investigate the changes in IOP following retrobulbar anesthesia, with two different volumes of local anesthetic (lidocaine) solution (10 and 5 mL), and intravitreal injection of 6 mg gentamicin in two different volumes of solution...
Medeiros do Nascimento RC, Graboschii ACG, da Fonseca LS, Silva AR, Souto PC, da Fonseca LA, Goulart MOF, Escodro PB.In most animals, pain can compromise physiological functions and delay healing so, rapid detection of pain through behavior and inflammatory reaction with biomarkers are necessary. This study aimed to evaluate pain, physiological variations and Acute Phase Proteins (APP) in donkeys undergoing orchiectomy technique by inguinal access. For this research, 15 male northeastern donkeys kept in extensive management were selected, with a mean age of 4.5±3.1 years. All animals had the same anesthetic protocol, using dissociative anesthesia and local block with lidocaine, followed by orchiectomy by in...
Marzok M, Almubarak AI, Kandeel M, El-Khodery S.Epidural analgesia using the alpha-2 agonist detomidine (DE), alone or in combination with lidocaine (LD), is frequently employed for standing surgical procedures in horses, but its use has not been evaluated in donkeys. Methods: In a randomised controlled prospective trial, 24 healthy adult donkeys were assigned to four groups (n = 6), each receiving 40 μg/kg of DE, 0.22 mg/kg of LD, combined DE and LD (DELD) or 0.9% sterile normal saline epidurally. After epidural injection of each treatment, the onset, degree and duration of sedation and anatomical extension of anti-nociception were obse...
Sanches GL, Ribeiro LMF, Motta AP, Petrucci LBDV, Gobbi FP, Quirino CR, Di Filippo PA.This study aimed to compare the antinociceptive effects of tramadol 5% and lidocaine 2% on mental nerve block in horses of the Brazilian Pony breed. Eight adult non-pregnant mares were used in this study. The ponies were tranquilized with acepromazine (5 µg kg, IV), and the infiltration of the mental foramen was performed in Treatment 1- tramadol 5% (T, 150 mg) or Treatment 2- lidocaine 2% (L, 60 mg), both at a total dose of 3 ml in each foramen. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), systolic arterial pressure (SAP), diastolic arterial pressure (DAP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), rectal te...
Vullo C, Crupi R, Di Paola R, Cuzzocrea S, Gugliandolo E, Biondi V, Catone G.The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of intratesticular or intrafunicular lidocaine to reduce perioperative nociception and cytokine release in ponies undergoing field castration under total intravenous anaesthesia. Before castration, one group was injected with intrafunicular (FL) lidocaine and the other received intratesticular (TL) lidocaine. All ponies were premedicated with acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg) intramuscularly. Twenty minutes after the administration of acepromazine, xylazine (1 mg/kg) and butorphanol (0.02 mg/kg) were administered intravenously. Lidocaine 2% was given 1 ...
Adler DMT, Jørgensen E, Cornett C.To determine the synovial fluid (SF) concentrations of lidocaine and mepivacaine after intra-articular injection with clinically relevant doses to the distal interphalangeal (DIP), metacarpophalangeal (MCP), middle carpal (MC), and tarsocrural (TC) joint at two different time points after injection in order to be able to compare concentrations with previously established concentrations associated with cytotoxicity and antimicrobial activity. Unassigned: In the first of two experiments, 20 joints (5 MC, 5 MCP, 10 DIP joints) of five horses under general anesthesia were injected with clinically ...
Park J, Sutradhar BC, Hong G, Choi SH, Kim G.To compare the chondrotoxicity of bupivacaine, lidocaine, and mepivacaine in equine articular chondrocytes in vitro. Methods: Prospective, experimental study. Methods: Equine articular chondrocytes. Methods: Primary cultured equine chondrocytes were exposed to 0.5% bupivacaine, 2% lidocaine, or 2% mepivacaine for 30 or 60 minutes. After treatment, cell viability was evaluated by trypan blue exclusion and the 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) colorimetric assay in a dose dependent manner. Apoptosis and necrosis of chondrocytes were analyzed with the double stain...
Sanchez LC, Robertson SA.Currently, approaches to pain control in horses are a mixture of art and science. Recognition of overt pain behaviours, such as rolling, kicking at the abdomen, flank watching, lameness or blepharospasm, may be obvious; subtle signs of pain can include changes in facial expression or head position, location in the stall and response to palpation or human interaction. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (i.e. phenylbutazone, flunixin meglumine and firocoxib), opioids (i.e. butorphanol, morphine and buprenorphine) and α2 -adrenergic agonists (i.e. xylazine, detomidine, romifidine and medetomid...
Lorena SE, Luna SP, Lascelles BD, Corrente JE.The objective of this study was to assess the use of analgesics, describe the attitudes of Brazilian veterinarians towards pain relief in horses and cattle and evaluate the differences due to gender, year of graduation and type of practice. Methods: Prospective survey. Methods: Questionnaires were sent to 1000 large animal veterinarians by mail, internet and delivered in person during national meetings. The survey investigated the attitudes of Brazilian veterinarians to the recognition and treatment of pain in large animals and consisted of sections asking about demographic data, use of analge...
Adler DMT, Damborg P, Verwilghen DR.Lameness is the most commonly reported health problem in horses, and lameness investigations which include local anaesthetic injections are routinely performed by equine practitioners. Through this process, bacteria can enter the tissues perforated by the needle and may cause local infections at the injection site. The objective of this in vitro study was to investigate if local anaesthetics at concentrations available in commercially available solutions could inhibit growth and/or kill bacteria that could be inoculated into the synovial space or soft tissues during injection. This study evalu...
Dzikiti TB, Hellebrekers LJ, van Dijk P.Physiological parameters, metabolic parameters and stress-related hormones are evaluated in horses anaesthetized with isoflurane in oxygen combined with lidocaine intravenously. Two groups of horses anaesthetized with isoflurane (six horses in each group) were studied: a lidocaine group (IL), which received intravenous lidocaine and a control group (C), which received intravenous saline. Horses in both groups were premedicated with detomidine (i.v.), and anaesthesia was induced with midazolam-ketamine (i.v.). The lidocaine group received intravenous lidocaine as a loading dose of 2.5 mg kg(-1)...
Robertson SA, Sanchez LC, Merritt AM, Doherty TJ.Commonly used analgesics (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory agents, opioids and alpha2-agonists) have unwanted side effects. An effective alternative with minimal adverse effects would benefit clinical equine pain management. Objective: To compare the effect of lidocaine or saline on duodenal and rectal distension threshold pressure and somatic thermal threshold in conscious mature horses. Objective: Systemically administered lidocaine would increase somatic and visceral nociceptive thresholds. Methods: Lidocaine (2 mg/kg bwt bolus followed by 50 microg/kg bwt/min for 2 h) or saline was administe...
Cohen ND, Lester GD, Sanchez LC, Merritt AM, Roussel AJ.To determine factors associated with development of postoperative ileus (POI) in horses undergoing surgery for colic. Methods: Prospective case-control study. Methods: 251 horses undergoing colic surgery, of which 47 developed POI. Methods: Signalment, history, clinicopathologic data, pre- and postoperative treatments, lesions, complications, costs, and outcome were recorded for all horses during hospitalization. Results: Variables associated with increased odds of POI included small intestinal lesion, high PCV, and increased duration of anesthesia. There was modest evidence that pelvic flexur...
Cook VL, Jones Shults J, McDowell M, Campbell NB, Davis JL, Blikslager AT.Absorption of endotoxin across ischaemic-injured mucosa is a major cause of mortality after colic surgery. Recent studies have shown that flunixin meglumine retards mucosal repair. Systemic lidocaine has been used to treat post operative ileus, but it also has novel anti-inflammatory effects that could improve mucosal recovery after ischaemic injury. Objective: Systemic lidocaine ameliorates the deleterious negative effects of flunixin meglumine on recovery of mucosal barrier function. Methods: Horses were treated i.v. immediately before anaesthesia with either 0.9% saline 1 ml/50 kg bwt, flun...
Torfs S, Delesalle C, Dewulf J, Devisscher L, Deprez P.Postoperative ileus (POI) is a frequent and often fatal complication of colic surgery. Reliably effective treatments are not available. Objective: To determine risk factors and protective factors associated with POI, and to assess the effect of lidocaine IV on short-term survival. Methods: One hundred and twenty-six horses that underwent small intestinal colic surgery and that survived for at least 24 hours postoperatively. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study. The association of 31 pre-, intra-, and postoperative variables with POI and the association of lidocaine treatment with short...
Valverde A, Gunkelt C, Doherty TJ, Giguère S, Pollak AS.Lidocaine constant rate infusions (CRIs) are common as an intraoperative adjunct to general anaesthesia, but their influence on quality of recovery has not been thoroughly determined. Objective: To determine the effects of an intraoperative i.v. CRI of lidocaine on the quality of recovery from isoflurane or sevoflurane anaesthesia in horses undergoing various surgical procedures, using a modified recovery score system. Objective: The administration of intraoperative lidocaine CRI decreases the quality of recovery in horses. Methods: Lidocaine (2 mg/kg bwt bolus followed by 50 microg/kg bwt/min...
Murrell JC, White KL, Johnson CB, Taylor PM, Doherty TJ, Waterman-Pearson AE.To record the electroencephalographic changes during castration in ponies anaesthetized with halothane and given intravenous (IV) lidocaine by infusion. The hypothesis tested was that in ponies, IV lidocaine is antinociceptive and would therefore obtund EEG changes during castration. Methods: Ten Welsh mountain ponies referred to the Department of Clinical Veterinary Medicine, Cambridge for castration under general anaesthesia. Methods: Following pre-anaesthetic medication with intramuscular acepromazine (0.02 mg kg(-1)) anaesthesia was induced with IV guaiphenesin (60 mg kg(-1)) and thiopenta...
Okamura K, Sasaki N, Yamada M, Yamada H, Inokuma H.Although extensive work has been done to elucidate the beneficial and unfavorable effects of gastrointestinal prokinetic agents in humans, little is known on the effects of these agents in horses. In this study, we compared the effects of mosapride, metoclopramide, cisapride, and lidocaine on equine gastric emptying, jejunal and caecal motility and evaluated these agents' adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Methods: Seven healthy adult Thoroughbreds. Methods: Mosapride 1.0mg/kg and 2.0mg/kg, metoclopramide 0.2mg/kg, and cisapride 1.0mg/kg were dissolved in 100mL distilled water for oral administrat...
Malone E, Ensink J, Turner T, Wilson J, Andrews F, Keegan K, Lumsden J.To determine if intravenous lidocaine is useful and safe as a treatment for equine ileus. Methods: Prospective double-blinded placebo-controlled trial. Methods: Horses (n = 32) with a diagnosis of postoperative ileus (POI) or enteritis and that had refluxed >20 L or had been refluxing for >24 hours. Methods: Refluxing horses were administered lidocaine (1.3 mg/kg intravenously [IV] as a bolus followed by a 0.05 mg/kg/min infusion) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution placebo for 24 hours. Variables evaluated included volume and duration of reflux, time to 1st fecal passage, signs of pain, anal...
Ringer SK, Kalchofner K, Boller J, Fürst A, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R.To compare the effects of two balanced anaesthetic protocols on end-tidal isoflurane (Fe'ISO), cardiopulmonary performance and quality of recovery in horses. Methods: Prospective blinded randomized clinical study. Methods: Sixty-nine client-owned horses, American Society of Anesthesiologists category I and II, undergoing elective surgery. Methods: The horses were premedicated with acepromazine (0.03 mg kg(-1)) IM 30-60 minutes before induction of anaesthesia and were randomly assigned to one of two treatments: in group L (37 horses) xylazine (1 mg kg(-1)) and in group M (31 horses) medetomidin...
Peiró JR, Barnabé PA, Cadioli FA, Cunha FQ, Lima VM, Mendonça VH, Santana AE, Malheiros EB, Perri SH, Valadão CA.The clinical efficacy of IV infusion of lidocaine for treatment of equine endotoxemia has not been studied. Objective: Lidocaine infusion after exposure to lipopolysaccharide (LPS) will inhibit the inflammatory response and have inhibitory effects on the hemodynamic and cytokine responses to endotoxemia. Methods: Twelve horses. Methods: Two equal groups (n=6): saline (GI) and lidocaine (GII). In all animals, endotoxin (500 ng/kg body weight [BW]) was injected intraperitoneally over 5 minutes. Twenty minutes later, animals received a bolus of GI or GII (1.3 mg/kg BW) over 5 minutes, followed by...
Gozalo-Marcilla M, Gasthuys F, Schauvliege S.To review the literature with regard to the use of different intravenous agents as supplements to inhalational anaesthesia in horses. These drugs include lidocaine, ketamine, opioids and α2 -agonists. The Part 1 of this review will focus in the use of lidocaine and ketamine. Methods: Pubmed & Web of Science. Search terms: horse, inhalant anaesthesia, balanced anaesthesia, partial intravenous anaesthesia, lidocaine, ketamine. Conclusions: Different drugs and their combinations can be administered systemically in anaesthetized horses, with the aim of reducing the amount of the volatile agen...
Rédua MA, Valadão CA, Duque JC, Balestrero LT.To evaluate the pre-emptive analgesic effect of pre-incisional epidural ketamine. Methods: A blinded, randomized experimental study. Methods: Sixteen mixed breed mares, 7.6 ± 2.8 years old, weighing 352 ± 32 kg. Methods: In a pilot study, an incision was made on one lateral thigh using a lidocaine block and no further analgesics, and it was verified that the nociceptive threshold was lower on the incised side than nonincised side (p ≤ 0.05), and that von Frey filaments evoked a pain response. The 16 animals were divided into group A (ketamine, n = 9) and B (saline, n = 7). An epidural cath...
Feary DJ, Mama KR, Wagner AE, Thomasy S.To compare the disposition of lidocaine administered IV in awake and anesthetized horses. Methods: 16 horses. Methods: After instrumentation and collection of baseline data, lidocaine (loading infusion, 1.3 mg/kg administered during 15 minutes (87 microg/kg/min); constant rate infusion, 50 microg/kg/min) was administered IV to awake or anesthetized horses for a total of 105 minutes. Blood samples were collected at fixed times during the loading and maintenance infusion periods and after the infusion period for analysis of serum lidocaine concentrations by use of liquid chromatography with mass...
Doherty TJ, Frazier DL.This study investigated the effect of lidocaine i.v. on halothane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) in ponies. Six ponies were anaesthetised with thiopentone and succinylcholine, intubated and anaesthesia maintained with halothane. Ventilation was controlled and blood pressure maintained within clinically acceptable limits. Following a 2 h equilibration period, baseline halothane MAC was determined. The ponies were then given a loading dose of lidocaine (2.5 or 5 mg/kg bwt) or saline over 5 min, followed by a constant infusion of lidocaine (50 or 100 microg/kg/min, or saline, respectively)....
Day TK, Skarda RT.Understanding of the pharmacology of local anesthesia is important for selection of a local anesthetic for use in equine standing surgery. In general, the action potential is inhibited by local anesthetics by preventing the influx of sodium ions across the axonal membrane. The physicochemical properties of each local anesthetic determine the onset of action, potency, and duration of action. Procaine, chlorprocaine, lidocaine, and mepivacaine are the local anesthetics still used clinically in horses; lidocaine is the most widely used. The future of equine local anesthesia may see the introducti...
Brianceau P, Chevalier H, Karas A, Court MH, Bassage L, Kirker-Head C, Provost P, Paradis MR.Twenty-eight horses with the diagnosis of an intestinal disorder requiring surgical intervention were randomly assigned to lidocaine (n = 13) or saline (control, n = 15) treatment groups. After induction of anesthesia, treated horses received a loading dose of 2% lidocaine (0.65 mg/kg) intravenously, followed by a continuous rate of infusion of 1% lidocaine (0.025 mg/kg/min) until the discontinuation of anesthesia. Upon recovery from anesthesia, a 2nd loading dose of 2% lidocaine (1.3 mg/kg) was administered, followed by an infusion of 1% lidocaine (0.05 mg/kg/min) for 24 hours postoperatively...
LeBlanc PH, Caron JP, Patterson JS, Brown M, Matta MA.Local anesthetics given in the epidural space of a horse may cause hind limb weakness in addition to analgesia. Because alpha 2 agonists given by epidural injection cause sensory blockade without motor effects in human beings and other species, their use in veterinary anesthesia is appealing. This study was designed to examine the effectiveness of xylazine HCl, an alpha 2 agonist commonly used in horses. Xylazine, 0.9% NaCl, and lidocaine were given by epidural injection to horses subjected to perineal electrical stimulation. Administration of xylazine (0.17 mg/kg of body weight, diluted to a ...
Valverde A.Balanced anesthetic techniques are commonly used in equine patients, and include the combination of a volatile anesthetic with at least one injectable anesthetic throughout the maintenance period. Injectable anesthetics used in balanced anesthesia include the α2-agonists, lidocaine, ketamine, and opioids, and those with muscle-relaxant properties such as benzodiazepines and guaifenesin. Administration of these injectable anesthetics is best using constant-rate infusions based on the pharmacokinetics of the drug, which allows steady-state concentrations and predictable pharmacodynamic actions....
Lefebvre D, Pirie RS, Handel IG, Tremaine WH, Hudson NP.There is a need for an improved understanding of equine post operative ileus (POI), in terms of both clinical definition and optimal management. Although the pharmacological strategies that are used to treat POI continue to evolve, little is known about the supplementary strategies used to prevent and manage this condition. Objective: To report the current strategies used to diagnose, prevent and manage POI following emergency abdominal surgeries. Methods: Cross-sectional survey. Methods: An electronic survey invitation was sent by email to 306 European college diplomates (European Colleges of...
Delgado OBD, Louro LF, Rocchigiani G, Verin R, Humphreys W, Senior M, Campagna I.To describe dye distribution and spinal nerve involvement after a simulated erector spinae plane (ESP) block performed on fresh equine cadavers. Methods: Experimental cadaver study. Methods: A group of 11 adult equine cadavers. Methods: The spinal region surrounding the sixteenth thoracic vertebra (Th16) of one cadaver was removed and underwent magnetic resonance imaging. In 10 adult equine cadavers [body weight, 549 ± 58 kg (mean ± standard deviation)], 0.2 mL kg of a 50:1 2% lidocaine/dye solution was injected bilaterally (n = 20 injections) into the fascial plane between the transverse p...
Enderle AK, Levionnois OL, Kuhn M, Schatzmann U.To compare isoflurane alone or in combination with systemic ketamine and lidocaine for general anaesthesia in horses. Methods: Prospective, randomized, blinded clinical trial. Methods: Forty horses (ASA I-III) undergoing elective surgery. Methods: Horses were assigned to receive isoflurane anaesthesia alone (ISO) or with ketamine and lidocaine (LKI). After receiving romifidine, diazepam, and ketamine, the isoflurane end-tidal concentration was set at 1.3% and subsequently adjusted by the anaesthetist (unaware of treatments) to maintain a light plane of surgical anaesthesia. Animals in the LKI ...
Komáromy AM, Garg CD, Ying GS, Liu C.To evaluate the effect of head position on intraocular pressure (IOP) in horses. Methods: 30 horses. Methods: Horses were sedated with detomidine HCl (0.01 mg/kg, IV). Auriculopalpebral nerve blocks were applied bilaterally with 2% lidocaine HCl. The corneas of both eyes were anesthetized with ophthalmic 0.5% proparacaine solution. Intraocular pressures were measured with an applanation tonometer with the head positioned below and above heart level. The mean of 3 readings was taken for each eye at each position for data analysis. The effect of head position on IOP was assessed and generalized ...
Meyer GA, Lin HC, Hanson RR, Hayes TL.This study aimed to identify blood serum lidocaine concentrations in the horse which resulted in clinical signs of intoxication, and to document the effects of toxic levels on the cardiovascular and cardiopulmonary systems. Nineteen clinically normal mature horses of mixed breed, age and sex were observed. Lidocaine administration was initiated in each subject with an i.v. loading dose of 1.5 mg/kg bwt and followed by continuous infusion of 0.3 mg/kg bwt/min until clinical signs of intoxication were observed. Intoxication was defined as the development of skeletal muscle tremors. Prior to admi...
Haga HA, Lykkjen S, Revold T, Ranheim B.To evaluate the effect of intratesticular administration of lidocaine on cardiovascular responses and cremaster muscle tension during castration of isoflurane-anesthetized stallions. Methods: 28 healthy stallions (mean +/- SD age, 4.2 +/- 2.8 years) with no testicular abnormalities that were scheduled for castration. Methods: Each horse was given acepromazine (20 microg/kg, IM), romifidine (50 microg/kg, IV), and butorphanol (20 microg/kg, IV). Anesthesia was induced with ketamine (2.5 mg/kg, IV) and midazolam (50 microg/kg, IV) and maintained with isoflurane (1.7% end-tidal concentration). Af...
