Effect of topical vapocoolant spray on response to arthrocentesis and intravenous catheterization in unsedated horses.
Abstract: To assess the efficacy of a commercially available topical vapocoolant spray in reducing responses to arthrocentesis of the middle carpal (MC) and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints and jugular vein catheterization in unsedated horses. Methods: 8 healthy research horses. Methods: Arthrocentesis of both MC and MCP joints and bilateral jugular vein catheterization were performed in each horse. Immediately prior to skin penetration, 1 randomly selected MC joint, MCP joint, and jugular vein were sprayed with a vapocoolant liquid (intervention product), and the contralateral MC joint, MCP joint, and jugular vein were sprayed with water (placebo). An observer blinded to the type of spray treatment used evaluated the horses' responses to needle or catheter placement procedures by use of a 6-point categorical scale and a 100-mm visual analog scale. Results: Responses evaluated via the visual analog scale were significantly reduced after application of the intervention product, compared with responses after application of the placebo, for the MC and MCP joints; no difference in responses to jugular vein catheterization was detected between the 2 treatments. Conclusions: Vapocoolant spray was safe and effective in reducing horses' responses to arthrocentesis. The use of such products prior to joint injections may reduce procedural nociception and pain anticipation in unsedated horses and may improve the safety of personnel performing such procedures.
Publication Date: 2011-06-02 PubMed ID: 21627519DOI: 10.2460/ajvr.72.6.746Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
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The study investigates the effectiveness of a type of topical spray, called a vapocoolant, in reducing the discomfort or reaction horses experience during two specific procedures: arthrocentesis (joint fluid extraction) and intravenous catheterization. The results showed that the vapocoolant spray significantly reduced the horses’ response to arthrocentesis but made no difference to their response to catheterization.
Methodology
- The study was conducted on eight healthy research horses. Procedures performed included arthrocentesis of the middle carpal (MC) and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, and bilateral jugular vein catheterization.
- Before the skin was penetrated for the procedures, a vapocoolant spray (the intervention) was applied on a randomly selected MC joint, MCP joint, and jugular vein. Meanwhile, the others (the contralateral MC joint, MCP joint, and jugular vein) were sprayed with water as a placebo.
- A ‘blind’ observer, unaware of the type of spray used, evaluated the horses’ reactions to the needle placement for the procedures using a 6-point categorical scale and a 100 mm visual analogue scale.
Results
- The study found that reactions, as assessed by the visual analogue scale, were significantly reduced after using the vapocoolant spray for the MC and MCP joints. However, the spray showed no effect on the reaction to jugular vein catheterization compared to the water spray.
- The use of a vapocoolant spray before joint fluid extraction reduces the horses’ anticipation of pain and makes the procedure safer for the staff to perform.
Conclusion
- The commercial vapocoolant spray was found to be safe and effective in reducing horses’ responses to arthrocentesis. However, its use didn’t alter the response to jugular vein catheterization.
- The use of such products before joint injections could lead to a decrease in procedural pain and anticipation in unsedated horses, thus improving the safety of staff performing these procedures.
Cite This Article
APA
Fjordbakk CT, Haga HA.
(2011).
Effect of topical vapocoolant spray on response to arthrocentesis and intravenous catheterization in unsedated horses.
Am J Vet Res, 72(6), 746-750.
https://doi.org/10.2460/ajvr.72.6.746 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Companion Animal Clinical Sciences, Equine Teaching Hospital, Norwegian School of Veterinary Science, 0033 Oslo, Norway. cathrine.fjordbakk@nvh.no
MeSH Terms
- Administration, Topical
- Aerosols / administration & dosage
- Aerosols / therapeutic use
- Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage
- Anesthetics, Local / therapeutic use
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal
- Carpal Joints / surgery
- Catheterization, Central Venous / adverse effects
- Catheterization, Central Venous / veterinary
- Female
- Horses
- Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / administration & dosage
- Hydrocarbons, Fluorinated / therapeutic use
- Jugular Veins / surgery
- Metacarpophalangeal Joint / surgery
- Pain / prevention & control
- Pain / veterinary
- Paracentesis / adverse effects
- Paracentesis / veterinary
- Videotape Recording
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Hoeberg E, Loken Kolstad T, Moller LM, Rosvold SK, Heggernes Softeland M, Haga HA, Lervik A. Lidocaine spray 10% prior to intravenous catheterisation in dogs. Acta Vet Scand 2022 Aug 20;64(1):20.
- Van der Saag D, Lomax S, Windsor PA, Hall E, White PJ. Effect of Lignocaine and a Topical Vapocoolant Spray on Pain Response during Surgical Castration of Beef Calves. Animals (Basel) 2019 Mar 28;9(4).
- Braden GC, Brice AK, Hankenson FC. Adverse effects of vapocoolant and topical anesthesia for tail biopsy of preweanling mice. J Am Assoc Lab Anim Sci 2015 May;54(3):291-8.
- Trinder R, Park J, Humm K, Cole L. Effectiveness of vapocoolant spray compared to eutectic lidocaine/prilocaine cream to enhance tolerance during intravenous catheterisation: a randomised controlled trial. J Small Anim Pract 2025 Apr;66(4):236-242.
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