A novel approach to ear pain in the horse: A case report.
Abstract: During electrochemotherapy (ECT), a chemotherapeutic drug is injected into the tumor and then an electroporation is provided. In horses, ear manipulation may be very painful, and combining a loco-regional technique with sedation might be a good option to avoid anesthesia-related risks. A two-injection-point block of the internal and external pinna and acoustic meatus was described in horse cadavers, and it permitted complete stain of all three branches of the great auricular nerve (GAN), internal auricular nerve branch (IAB), lateral auricular branch (LAB), and caudal auricular nerve (CAN), suggesting a lower risk of intra-parotid injection during the IAB and LAB block. Unassigned: An 8-year-old Italian jumping gelding presented for ECT to treat a fibroblastic sarcoid in the left medial pinna. After intravenous sedation with acepromazine, romifidine, and butorphanol, a two-injection-point block was provided as previously described. The block of the GAN was blind, whereas an electrical nerve locator was used for the IAB, LAB, and CAN. A total of 12 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine was injected. The ECT was safely performed without any difficulties. The horse well tolerated the procedure and completely recovered 75 minutes after sedation. No complications were detected. Unassigned: The described approach seems feasible and suitable for the blockade of the sensory innervation of the equine ear in the case of ECT.
Publication Date: 2024-05-31 PubMed ID: 38938434PubMed Central: PMC11199758DOI: 10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i5.26Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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This research article explores a new method for managing ear pain in horses by combining a loco-regional technique with sedation during electrochemotherapy (ECT). The study presents a practical case where the method was successfully utilized on a horse undergoing ECT for fibroblastic sarcoid.
Research Methods
- The technique of electrochemotherapy (ECT) involves injecting a chemotherapeutic drug into a tumour, followed by electroporation. In this research, the procedure was applied to an 8-year-old Italian jumping gelding with fibroblastic sarcoid in the left medial pinna.
- The pain control technique used in this method was a two-injection-point block, which was previously described in horse cadavers. The technique targets the major nerve branches in the horse’s ear, minimizing the risk of an intra-parotid injection during the process.
- The approach used a blind block for the great auricular nerve (GAN) and an electrical nerve locator for the internal auricular nerve branch (IAB), lateral auricular branch (LAB), and caudal auricular nerve (CAN).
Results and Outcomes
- The 8-year-old horse received sedation followed by the two-injection-point block approach. Approximately 12 ml of 0.5% ropivacaine was injected as anesthetic.
- The ECT procedure was conducted without any complications arising. The horse responded well to the procedure and recovered completely 75 minutes after sedation.
- No complications were detected during the ECT procedure, suggesting the technique was successful in managing the horse’s ear pain and was safe to use during the course of treatment.
Conclusions
- Based on the results, the researchers concluded that the technique is feasible and suitable for effectively managing ear pain in horses undergoing ECT.
- The successful management of the horse’s pain during the procedure indicates the technique may be a viable alternative to general anaesthesia for certain types of surgical procedures involving the ear in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Lardone E, Landi A, Franci P.
(2024).
A novel approach to ear pain in the horse: A case report.
Open Vet J, 14(5), 1309-1312.
https://doi.org/10.5455/OVJ.2024.v14.i5.26 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
- Department of Veterinary Science, University of Turin, Grugliasco, Italy.
MeSH Terms
- Horses
- Animals
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Male
- Electrochemotherapy / veterinary
- Pain / veterinary
- Pain / etiology
- Ropivacaine / administration & dosage
- Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage
- Nerve Block / veterinary
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.
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