Effect of systemic lidocaine on visceral and somatic nociception in conscious horses.
Abstract: 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 administered to 6 horses each carrying a permanently implanted gastric cannula, in a randomised, blinded cross-over design. Thermal threshold was measured using a probe containing a heater element placed over the withers which supplied heat until the horse responded. A barostatically controlled intraduodenal balloon was distended until a discomfort response was obtained. A rectal balloon was inflated until extruded or signs of discomfort noted. Results: Thermal threshold was increased significantly 30 and 90 mins after the start of lidocaine infusion. There was no change in duodenal distension pressure and a small but clinically insignificant change in colorectal distension pressure in the lidocaine group. Conclusions: At the dose used, systemically administered lidocaine produced thermal antinociception but minimal changes in visceral nociception. Conclusions: At these doses, lidocaine may play a role in somatic analgesia in horses.
Publication Date: 2005-03-23 PubMed ID: 15779623DOI: 10.2746/0425164054223723Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article explores how administering systemic lidocaine in horses impacts their visceral (organs) and somatic (skin and tissues) sensitivity towards pain. The findings suggest that lidocaine does improve somatic pain tolerance, but has negligible impact on visceral pain response.
Study Design and Procedure
- The experiment employed a randomized, blinded cross-over design, studying 6 mature horses each equipped with a permanently implanted gastric cannula.
- Each subject was either administered lidocaine (dosage of 2 mg/kg bwt bolus, followed by 50 µg/kg bwt/min for 2 hours) or a saline substitute.
- The scientists measured thermal threshold using a heater element probe positioned on the withers of the equine subjects. The heating would continue until the horse responded, indicating discomfort.
- They used a barostatically controlled intraduodenal balloon, inflated until the horse displayed discomfort reactions, to determine duodenal distension pressure. Rectal distension was measured similarly, by inflating a rectal balloon until the horse showed signs of discomfort or the balloon was extruded.
Findings and Conclusion
- The data showed a significant elevation in thermal thresholds, 30 and 90 minutes post the beginning of lidocaine infusion.
- However, there were no recorded changes in duodenal distension pressure, and only slight changes, deemed clinically insignificant, were noted in colorectal distension pressure in the group that received lidocaine.
- The study concluded that systemic lidocaine, at least at the dosages used in this study, has more effect on somatic pain sensitivity than on visceral pain sensitivity in horses.
- This might indicate that lidocaine could serve as an effective tool for managing somatic pain in horses, given the drug’s seemingly insignificant impact on visceral nociception at equivalent dosages.
Cite This Article
APA
Robertson SA, Sanchez LC, Merritt AM, Doherty TJ.
(2005).
Effect of systemic lidocaine on visceral and somatic nociception in conscious horses.
Equine Vet J, 37(2), 122-127.
https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164054223723 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Island Whirl Equine Colic Research Laboratory, Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, College of Veterinary Medicine, Gainesville, Florida 32610-0136, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Analgesia / methods
- Analgesia / veterinary
- Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage
- Anesthetics, Local / pharmacology
- Animals
- Colon / drug effects
- Colon / physiology
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Infusions, Intravenous / veterinary
- Lidocaine / administration & dosage
- Lidocaine / pharmacology
- Male
- Motor Activity / drug effects
- Pain / drug therapy
- Pain / veterinary
- Pain Measurement / veterinary
- Random Allocation
- Rectum / drug effects
- Rectum / physiology
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Ziegler AL, Blikslager AT. Sparing the gut: COX-2 inhibitors herald a new era for treatment of horses with surgical colic.. Equine Vet Educ 2020 Nov;32(11):611-616.
- Marques AEGW, Marques MG, Silveira BCR, Oliveira SP, Ferraz IG, Ventricci ABG, Silva NC, Nagata WB, Floriano BP, Ferreira WL, Santos PSP. Lidocaine administered at a continuous rate infusion does not impair left ventricular systolic and diastolic function of healthy rabbits sedated with midazolam.. Vet Anim Sci 2020 Dec;10:100151.
- Fang H, Li HF, Yang M, Zhang FX, Liao R, Wang RR, Wang QY, Zheng PC, Zhang JP. Effect of ketamine combined with lidocaine in pediatric anesthesia.. J Clin Lab Anal 2020 Apr;34(4):e23115.
- Mitchell CF, Fugler LA, Eades SC. The management of equine acute laminitis.. Vet Med (Auckl) 2015;6:39-47.
- Fielding CL. Practical Fluid Therapy and Treatment Modalities for Field Conditions for Horses and Foals with Gastrointestinal Problems.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2018 Apr;34(1):155-168.
- Malavasi LM, Greene SA, Gay JM, Grubb TL. Cardiopulmonary Effects of Constant-Rate Infusion of Lidocaine for Anesthesia during Abdominal Surgery in Goats.. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2016;55(4):431-5.
- Elfenbein JR, Robertson SA, MacKay RJ, KuKanich B, Sanchez L. Systemic and anti-nociceptive effects of prolonged lidocaine, ketamine, and butorphanol infusions alone and in combination in healthy horses.. BMC Vet Res 2014;10 Suppl 1(Suppl 1):S6.
- Credie Lde F, Luna SP, Futema F, da Silva LC, Gomes GB, Garcia JN, de Carvalho LR. Perioperative evaluation of tumescent anaesthesia technique in bitches submitted to unilateral mastectomy.. BMC Vet Res 2013 Sep 11;9:178.
- Poller C, Hopster K, Rohn K, Kästner SB. Nociceptive thermal threshold testing in horses - effect of neuroleptic sedation and neuroleptanalgesia at different stimulation sites.. BMC Vet Res 2013 Jul 9;9:135.
- Poller C, Hopster K, Rohn K, Kästner SB. Evaluation of contact heat thermal threshold testing for standardized assessment of cutaneous nociception in horses - comparison of different locations and environmental conditions.. BMC Vet Res 2013 Jan 8;9:4.
- Hoffmann MV, Kästner SB, Kietzmann M, Kramer S. Contact heat thermal threshold testing in beagle dogs: baseline reproducibility and the effect of acepromazine, levomethadone and fenpipramide.. BMC Vet Res 2012 Oct 30;8:206.
- Ortega M, Cruz I. Evaluation of a constant rate infusion of lidocaine for balanced anesthesia in dogs undergoing surgery.. Can Vet J 2011 Aug;52(8):856-60.
- Hewes CA, Keoughan GC, Gutierrez-Nibeyro S. Standing enucleation in the horse: a report of 5 cases.. Can Vet J 2007 May;48(5):512-4.
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