Outcome of epidural catheterization for delivery of analgesics in horses: 43 cases (1998-2001).

The research article discusses the use and efficiency of epidural catheterization in delivering analgesics to horses, including details on reasons for catheter placement, duration of placement, reasons for removal and potential complications.

Objective and Methodology

• The objective of this study was to assess the reasons why epidural catheters were placed, the effectiveness of their use in analgesic administration, how long they were kept in place, the reasons for their removal, and any complications encountered during this process.
• The researchers conducted a retrospective study with a sample of 43 horses. The medical records of these horses were thoroughly examined, noting instances of epidural catheter placement.

Key Findings

• Out of the 43 horses, a total of 50 epidural catheters were placed. The underlying conditions that necessitated this included fractures, lacerations, septic arthritis, myositis, perineal injuries, and cellulitis.
• The age range of the horses was from 2 to 21 years old, and they had a weight range of 365 kg to 795 kg.
• The median duration for the catheter placements was 96 hours, ranging from 1.5 to 480 hours.
• The response to the administration of drugs through epidural was mainly positive, with 34 of the horses showing a positive response, 4 showing a negative response, and no apparent response was observed in 2 of the horses. For three of the horses, the response could not be determined.

Complications and Conclusion

• A handful of complications associated with the procedure were reported. These included the temporary complications related to the patients themselves, technical issues with the catheters, like dislodgement of catheter or the adapter, obstruction, and leakage.
• Many catheters were removed due to resolution of the underlying medical condition or because of complications that arose. Some catheters were still in place when the study ended due to the euthanization of the horses.
• Despite the reported complications, the study’s results suggest that epidural catheterization can be used effectively for the repeated administration of analgesics and anesthetics in horses dealing with a variety of clinical conditions. The complications reported were generally infrequent and temporary.