Evaluation of 10-minute versus 30-minute tourniquet time for intravenous regional limb perfusion with amikacin sulfate in standing sedated horses.

This research evaluates if a 10-minute application of a tourniquet during intravenous regional limb perfusion in horses yields similar results to a 30-minute application when administering amikacin sulfate, an antimicrobial drug.

Research Methodology and Design

The research uses a randomised crossover experimental design on seven healthy adult horses. The horses underwent two distinct intravenous regional limb perfusion (IVRLP) procedures, each with different tourniquet times of 10 minutes and 30 minutes.

• Each horse was sedated and administered 2g of amikacin sulfate (AS) diluted to 60 ml using 0.9% saline injected into the cephalic vein of alternating limbs.
• A washout period was applied between the procedures to allow for the elimination of the drug from the system before conducting the alternative procedure.
• The movements of the horses were observed and recorded.

Data Collection and Analysis

The researchers harvested synovial fluid from the radiocarpal and metacarpophalangeal joints at five minutes and 24 hours after the IVRLP procedure. The amikacin concentration in the synovial fluid was then compared between the two groups.

• A fluorescence polarization immunoassay technique was used for the amikacin concentration quantification.
• Data from the movement recordings was also analysed.

Findings & Conclusion

There was no significant difference in the concentration of amikacin in the synovial fluid between the 10-minute and 30-minute tourniquet group. However, more movement was observed in horses from the 30-minute application group.

• This indicates that the additional tourniquet time could potentially bring about discomfort leading to increased movement in the horses.
• The systemic venous blood concentration of amikacin one minute after tourniquet release was higher in the 10-minute group which was statistically significant (P=0.001).

The study concludes that a 10-minute application of a wide elastic tourniquet may be sufficient for IVRLP in standing sedated horses, which minimizes discomfort and yields similar drug concentrations in the synovial fluid.