Analgesic, behavioral, and hemodynamic and respiratory effects of midsacral subarachnoidally administered ropivacaine hydrochloride in mares.
Abstract: To determine the analgesic, behavioral, hemodynamic and respiratory effects of midsacral subarachnoid administration of ropivacaine hydrochloride solution in mares. Methods: Randomized, blinded study. Methods: Ten healthy mares, weighing from 470 to 560 kg. Methods: Intravascular and subarachnoid catheters were placed after infiltration of the skin and subcutaneous tissues with 2% lidocaine. Ropivacaine (0.2%, 5 mL) or 0.9% NaCl was then administered subarachnoidally at the midsacral (S2-S3) vertebrae. Analgesia was determined by lack of sensory perception to electrical stimulation (>40 mA) and absence of response to needle pricks extending from coccygeal to S1 dermatomes. Numerical scores of sedation, change in pelvic limb position, sweating in analgesic zones, urination, behavior, response to noise, and compliance with restraint were determined. Two-way ANOVA with repeated measures and Dunnett's t-tests were used to evaluate differences between the listed numerical scores, and cardiovascular and respiratory variables before and during a 5-hour testing period. Results: Subarachnoidally administered ropivacaine-induced variable analgesia extending bilaterally from the coccyx to S1, with minimal sedation and change in pelvic limb position in standing mares. Perineal analgesia was attained at 7.5 +/- 2.6 minutes and lasted for 218 +/- 44 minutes (mean +/- SD). Subarachnoid ropivacaine significantly reduced respiratory rates and did not change heart rate, rectal temperature, arterial blood pressure, PCV, arterial gas tensions (PaO2 and PaCO2), pH, and arterial standard bicarbonate and base excess from baseline. Conclusions: Ropivacaine (0.2% solution, 5 mL 500 kg(-1)) can be administered subarachnoidally at midsacral (S2-S3) vertebrae to produce prolonged (>3 hours) bilateral perineal analgesia with minimal changes of behavior, and circulatory and respiratory disturbances in standing mares.
Publication Date: 2003-09-23 PubMed ID: 14498916DOI: 10.1046/j.1467-2995.2003.00094.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This research paper investigates the effects of administering a solution of ropivacaine hydrochloride, a local anesthetic, into the midsacral region of the spine in horses. The study reveals that this administration method results in analgesic effects, changes in behavior, and has impacts on heart rate and breathing.
Methodology
- The study was conducted using a double-blind, randomized experiment on ten healthy mares (female horses) weighing between 470 to 560 kg.
- Catheters were inserted into both the blood vessels and the subarachnoid space (the area around the spinal cord) after the skin and tissues beneath had been numbed with lidocaine.
- A solution of either ropivacaine hydrochloride (0.2%) or a saline solution control (0.9% NaCl) was administered into the midsacral region of the spine.
- The researchers tested for analgesia (pain relief) by checking for a lack of sensory perception to electrical stimulation and response to needle pricks on regions from the tailbone to the first sacral vertebra.
- Behavioral changes, sedation levels, position changes in the hind legs, the presence of sweating in the analgesic region, and responses to noise and restraint were all scored and measured.
- The experiment’s data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA with repeated measures and Dunnett’s t-tests to establish differences between the measures before and during a 5-hour experimentation period.
Results
- It was found that the anesthetic ropivacaine, when administered in this way, resulted in variable pain relief that extended from the tailbone to the first sacral vertebra, with minimal sedation and changes in position in standing mares.
- The onset of perineal (around the anus and genitals) pain relief occurred around 7.5 minutes after administration and lasted approximately 218 minutes.
- The ropivacaine significantly lowered respiratory rates but did not cause changes in heart rate, rectal temperature, blood pressure, packed cell volume (PCV), and various blood gas and chemical measures.
Conclusion
- The findings suggest that ropivacaine (in a 0.2% solution) can be administered into the midsacral region of the spine to offer prolonged pain relief in the perineal region of standing mares.
- This method produces minimal changes in behavior and causes minor circulatory and respiratory disruptions.
- Because of these factors, this approach could potentially be used for practical, prolonged pain management in mares.
Cite This Article
APA
Skarda RT, Muir WW.
(2003).
Analgesic, behavioral, and hemodynamic and respiratory effects of midsacral subarachnoidally administered ropivacaine hydrochloride in mares.
Vet Anaesth Analg, 30(1), 37-50.
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1467-2995.2003.00094.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, The Ohio State University, 601 Vernon L. Tharp Street, Columbus, OH 43210-1089, USA. skarda.1@osu.edu
MeSH Terms
- Amides / administration & dosage
- Amides / pharmacology
- Analgesics / administration & dosage
- Analgesics / pharmacology
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal / drug effects
- Female
- Hemodynamics / drug effects
- Horses / physiology
- Injections / veterinary
- Perineum
- Respiration / drug effects
- Ropivacaine
- Sacrum
- Sensation / drug effects
- Single-Blind Method
- Subarachnoid Space
Citations
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