Meperidine prolongs lidocaine caudal epidural anaesthesia in the horse.

This research investigated the effect of combining lidocaine and meperidine for caudal epidural anesthesia in horses, and found that the combination achieved a longer duration of pain relief.

Objective of the Research

• The goal of this study was to assess the impact of caudal epidural administration of two drugs: meperidine (MP) and lidocaine (LD), both independently and in combination (MLPD), on six mature saddle horses.

Methodology

• The horses were randomly assigned to receive three treatments: MP at 0.3mg/kg; LD at 0.2mg/kg; and MPLD: with MP at 0.3mg/kg and LD at 0.2mg/kg.
• There was at least one week between each treatment application.
• The researchers injected the substances into the epidural space between the first and second coccygeal areas of conscious, standing horses.
• Observations such as analgesia, ataxia, sedation effects, cardiovascular and respiratory effects, and rectal temperature were recorded at different intervals before (for baseline data) and after the administration of the treatments.

Key Findings

• The results indicated that the combined injection of MP and LD (MPLD) resulted in a longer duration of analgesia, or pain relief, in the tail, perineum, and upper hind limb regions of the horses, when compared to the administration of MP or LD alone.

Implications of the Findings

• The study offers potential benefits for equine veterinary medicine. The results can be leveraged to improve anesthetic procedures, especially for veterinary surgeons operating on the tail, perineum, and upper hind limb regions in horses, which typically require long periods of anesthesia.
• These findings, although specific to horses, may open possibilities for testing in other veterinary or even human medical contexts, adding to the overall knowledge and options in the field of anesthesia.