Diagnostic anaesthesia of the equine lower limb: a comparison of lidocaine and lidocaine with epinephrine.
Abstract: The anaesthetic potency, onset of action, duration of action, and side effects of lidocaine and lidocaine plus epinephrine for proximal metacarpal block of the lateral and medial palmar nerves were determined. Ten horses were used and legs were injected using a cross-over model with three test solutions: 1) solvent and lidocaine (2%) plus epinephrine (SLE); 2) solvent and lidocaine (2%) without epinephrine (SL); and 3) solvent only (S). The contra-lateral leg was injected with saline (placebo; P). In both the SL and SLE groups, the onset of anaesthesia occurred between 5 and 15 minutes after injection. In the SL group the effect was short-lived, lasting 60 minutes, with a maximum effect at 15 minutes. SLE induced long-lasting anaesthesia in most animals moderate or total anesthesia lasted 6 hours, and in two horses more than 9 hours. The maximum effect was achieved at 60 and 90 minutes. Swelling, the main side effect, was seen halfway between the injection site and the fetlock joint. Swelling on day 1 was minimal in the legs injected with P (105.3%) but was progressively greater with S (129%), SL (136%), and SLE (172%). On day 1 and day 2 the differences between SLE and SL, and between SLE and S were significant (P < 0.05). The difference between S and SL was not significant. On day 3, the swelling had subsided and differences were no longer significant.
Publication Date: 2004-10-06 PubMed ID: 15461371
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article is a comparative study of the efficacy, length of anaesthetic effect, and side effects of lidocaine alone and lidocaine combined with epinephrine, used in diagnostic anaesthesia of the lower limb in horses.
Research Methodology
- The study utilized ten horses, conducting injections using a cross-over model with three test substances: Lidocaine alone (2%), Lidocaine (2%) combined with epinephrine, and only solvent.
- The contra-lateral leg of the same horse was injected with saline as a placebo.
- The variables being measured were anaesthetic potency, onset of action, duration of action, and side effects of both anaesthetic solutions in comparison to the placebo and solvent.
Results of the Experiment
- Both anaesthetic solution groups (Lidocaine and Lidocaine with epinephrine) demonstrated onset of anaesthesia between 5 and 15 minutes following injection.
- Anaesthesia with lidocaine alone was comparatively short-lived, lasting for only 60 minutes with the peak effect seen at 15 minutes post-injection.
- Conversely, the combination of lidocaine with epinephrine induced a longer-lasting anaesthesia, with most animals showing moderate to total anaesthesia for up to 6 hours. In two cases, the anaesthesia exceeded 9 hours, with the peak effect being observed at 60 to 90 minutes.
Side Effects
- The primary side effect observed was swelling between the injection site and the fetlock joint.
- The swelling observed 24 hours post-injection was minimal for legs injected with placebo (saline), becoming progressively greater with the solvent, lidocaine, and the lidocaine-epinephrine combination, respectively.
- Significant differences in swelling on the first and second day post-injection were apparent between legs treated with lidocaine-epinephrine and both lidocaine alone or with the solvent.
- However, there was no significant difference observed between the solvent and lidocaine groups in terms of swelling.
- By the third day, these swelling differences had subsided and were no longer statistically significant.
Implication of the Research
- The research helps veterinarians understand and select the appropriate anaesthetic solution for equine lower limb procedures based on duration of efficacy and potential for swelling side effects.
- It suggests that the combination of lidocaine with epinephrine may offer longer duration of anaesthesia but at the potential cost of increased post-injection swelling, especially in comparison to lidocaine alone.
Cite This Article
APA
Spoormakers TJ, Donker SH, Ensink JM.
(2004).
Diagnostic anaesthesia of the equine lower limb: a comparison of lidocaine and lidocaine with epinephrine.
Tijdschr Diergeneeskd, 129(17), 548-551.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Dierenkliniek Emmeloord, Faculteit der Diergeneeskunde, Universiteit Utrecht.
MeSH Terms
- Anesthesia, Local / methods
- Anesthesia, Local / veterinary
- Anesthetics, Combined / administration & dosage
- Anesthetics, Combined / adverse effects
- Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage
- Animals
- Cross-Over Studies
- Epinephrine / administration & dosage
- Epinephrine / adverse effects
- Extremities / innervation
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horses
- Lidocaine / administration & dosage
- Male
- Nerve Block / methods
- Nerve Block / veterinary
- Random Allocation
- Time Factors
- Vasoconstrictor Agents / administration & dosage
Citations
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