Comparison of topical lidocaine/prilocaine anesthetic cream and local infiltration of 2% lidocaine for episioplasty in mares.

The research study investigates the efficacy of two local anesthesia methods – lidocaine infiltration and lidocaine/prilocaine topical anesthetic cream – for episioplasty (vulval surgery) in mares. The results show both methods are quite efficient, but using the anesthetic cream lessens the need for twitching horses and the risk of labia deformation.

Objective

The main aim of the research is to compare two local anesthesia methods: lidocaine/prilocaine topical anesthetic cream and lidocaine infiltration, used for episioplasty in mares. The research intends to determine which method is more efficient and causes less tissue inflammation.

Methodology

• The study involved 22 mares which were randomly divided into two groups to receive either lidocaine or lidocaine/prilocaine topical anesthetic cream treatment.
• Prior to the procedure, perineum and vulva were cleaned, and a generous amount of topical anesthetic cream was applied, then covered with a plastic wrap for 30 minutes.
• Alternatively, lidocaine was injected at regular intervals just prior to the procedure. Episioplasty was carried out using standard methods, with a consistent application of simple interrupted sutures.
• No sedation was used during the procedure, and any use of a twitch was recorded. Biopsies were taken 1, 3, and 10 days after the procedure and assessed for the degree of inflammation by a blinded pathologist.

Findings

• The results indicated that seven of the eleven horses that received lidocaine infiltration needed twitching. In contrast, none of the horses that received the anesthetic cream needed twitching.
• A comparable number of horses in both the lidocaine and anesthetic cream groups needed twitching for the episioplasty procedure.
• Aside from clinical scores on the third day, there were no significant statistical differences between the inflammation scores from the lidocaine and anesthetic cream groups on any given day.

Conclusion

Based on the analysis, it was concluded that lidocaine/prilocaine topical anesthetic cream was as effective as lidocaine infiltration for episioplasty in mares. Additionally, the use of the cream was shown to decrease the necessity of twitching horses and the risk of labia deformation caused by lidocaine infiltration.