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Equine veterinary journal2020; 52(6); 805-810; doi: 10.1111/evj.13250

Intratesticular mepivacaine versus lidocaine in anaesthetised horses undergoing Henderson castration.

Abstract: In horses undergoing castration, direct comparison of intratesticular lidocaine vs mepivacaine as analgesic adjuncts has not yet been analysed. Objective: To compare the effects of intratesticular lidocaine and mepivacaine during equine castration using the Henderson drill under total intravenous anesthesia. Methods: Randomised, double-blinded clinical study. Methods: Thirty-four stallions were anaesthetised using xylazine-ketamine and randomly selected to receive 10 mL either lidocaine or mepivacaine injected into each testicle. Both surgeon and anaesthetist were blinded to the selected treatment. A total of 5 minutes were required to pass between injection and first incision. Routine castration using a Henderson drill was performed. Heart rate, respiratory rate and SpO were serially recorded. Total surgical time, time prior to clamping of each testicle and time to second incision were recorded. Cremaster muscle relaxation, surgical quality scores, number of additional ketamine boluses, recovery time and recovery quality were assessed between groups. Results: Cremaster relaxation scores were significantly better for the mepivacaine group over the lidocaine group on a 1-3 scoring system (1 being most relaxed, 3 being least). The average cremaster relaxation score on both testicles treated with mepivacaine was 1 compared to the lidocaine treatment averaging 2 [P = .03 first testicle; P = .04 second testicle]. The lidocaine group had an increased number of horses requiring additional ketamine (25% of horses) compared to the mepivacaine group (16% of horses). No other significant differences were observed between the groups. Conclusions: The use of only one injection method and lack of post-operative pain scoring limit the conclusions that can be drawn from these results. Conclusions: Intratesticular mepivacaine when compared with intratesticular lidocaine results in improved cremaster muscle relaxation when only waiting five min prior to the start of the procedure.
© 2020 EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2020-03-23 PubMed ID: 32090383DOI: 10.1111/evj.13250Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study investigated the effectiveness of two different analgesic drugs, lidocaine and mepivacaine, when used in horses undergoing castration. The study found that mepivacaine resulted in better muscle relaxation, which could improve the ease and success of the operation.

Methodology

  • The study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial involving 34 stallions who were about to undergo castration
  • Before the procedure, each horse was placed under total intravenous anesthesia using a regimen of xylazine-ketamine
  • The horses were then randomly selected to receive an injection of 10ml of either lidocaine or mepivacaine directly into each testicle
  • The surgeon and anesthetist conducting the procedures were blinded as to which treatment each horse had received
  • A time frame of 5 minutes was allowed to pass between the injection and the first incision to allow for the effects of the analgesic to manifest
  • The castration procedures were all performed using a Henderson drill
  • A variety of observations and measurements were taken during the procedures, including heart rate, respiratory rate, total surgery time, muscle relaxation, and the number of additional ketamine doses required

Results

  • The study found that horses in the mepivacaine group exhibited significantly better cremaster muscle relaxation compared to those in the lidocaine group; the system used to score this ranged from 1 (most relaxed) to 3 (least relaxed)
  • An average score of 1 was given to the mepivacaine group compared to a score of 2 for the lidocaine group
  • In addition, less horses in the mepivacaine group required additional doses of ketamine during their operations as compared to the lidocaine group

Conclusions

  • While the study found significant benefits to using mepivacaine over lidocaine in horses undergoing castration, the authors note limitations such as the singular injection method and the absence of post-operative pain scoring
  • Intratesticular mepivacaine resulted in improved cremaster muscle relaxation when only a five-minute wait was observed prior to the start of the procedure

Cite This Article

APA
Crandall A, Hopster K, Grove A, Levine D. (2020). Intratesticular mepivacaine versus lidocaine in anaesthetised horses undergoing Henderson castration. Equine Vet J, 52(6), 805-810. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13250

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 52
Issue: 6
Pages: 805-810

Researcher Affiliations

Crandall, Alycia
  • Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
Hopster, Klaus
  • Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
Grove, Annie
  • Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA.
Levine, David
  • Department of Clinical Studies, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, PA, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Anesthetics, Local / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Equidae
  • Horses
  • Lidocaine / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Mepivacaine / therapeutic use
  • Orchiectomy / veterinary

References

This article includes 20 references
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Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Gozalo-Marcilla M, Ringer SK. Recovery after General Anaesthesia in Adult Horses: A Structured Summary of the Literature. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 14;11(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11061777pubmed: 34198637google scholar: lookup
  2. D'Urso ES, Martorelli M, Bersanetti G, Selleri P, De Gennaro C. Combination of Dexmedetomidine and Low-Dose Ketamine in 4 Sugar Gliders (Petaurus breviceps) Undergoing Elective Castration. Vet Sci 2025 Jul 25;12(8).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12080699pubmed: 40872650google scholar: lookup
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