Pharmacopuncture Analgesia Using Flunixin Meglumine Injection into the Acupoint GV1 (Ho Hai) After Elective Castration in Horses.

The research investigates the analgesic effectiveness of pharmacopuncture—the injection of a reduced dose of flunixin meglumine into an acupoint—in postoperative pain management for horses that have been castrated. The study serves to contrast this with a conventional intravenous method of administering flunixin meglumine.

Procedure

• The study involved twenty horses. Each of these animals initially received an intravenous administration of a combination of detomidine, ketamine, and diazepam as a form of anesthesia. This was then followed up with a local anesthesia using lidocaine.
• For post-surgery pain relief, the research separated the animals into two groups. One group received flunixin meglumine intravenously, while the other had a smaller dose injected into their governing vessel 1 (GV1) acupoint—a method referred to as ‘pharmacopuncture’.
• The conduct and physiological parameters of the horses were regularly observed over the course of 24 hours following their castration surgery. Specific timings of assessment varied based on the type of observation being made. Behavior was evaluated at the 4, 6, 12, and 24-hour marks, while physiological attributes were checked more frequently.

Findings

• The study found no significant difference between the two groups of horses in terms of pain rating.
• Postoperative observations at the 2-hour mark indicated a higher heart rate among the group treated with intravenous flunixin meglumine, compared with the group receiving the drug via pharmacopuncture.
• Additionally, evidence of reduced gut sounds were noted across both groups of horses in the initial 6 hours following surgery.
• Body temperature in the pharmacopuncture-treated group was found to have decreased from the baseline measure 2 hours after surgery.
• In the latter half of the 24-hour observation, the pharmacopuncture group demonstrated a higher systolic blood pressure compared with the intravenous group.

Conclusion

• In the context of these research conditions, the study draws the conclusion that pharmacopuncture can be as effective as the traditional administration of flunixin meglumine for managing postoperative pain in horses that have undergone elective castration.