Systemic and local effects associated with long-term epidural catheterization and morphine-detomidine administration in horses.
Abstract: The purpose of this study was to determine the systemic and local effects associated with long-term epidural catheterization and epidural morphine-detomidine administration in horses. Methods: Development of systemic or local effects was assessed by placing caudal epidural catheters in study horses and administering injections through the catheters every 12 hours for 14 days. Methods: Ten horses with epidural catheters that received daily injections; six uncatheterized horses presented for euthanasia. Methods: Horses received either 0.2 mg/kg morphine sulfate and 30 micrograms/kg detomidine hydrochloride or an equivalent volume of physiologic saline solution through epidural catheters. Systemic effects were compared between control and treatment horses by measuring physical parameters and hay and water consumption, as well as by evaluating major organs after euthanasia. Local effects were studied by examining cerebrospinal fluid and by grading representative samples of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues histologically for inflammation and fibrosis. Local effects were compared between control and treatment horses, as well as between catheterized (control plus treatment) horses and uncatheterized horses. Results: No significant difference was identified in daily variables or hay and water consumption between control and treatment horses. No growth was obtained from cerebrospinal fluid cultures. No significant difference in cerebrospinal fluid values or spinal tissue inflammation or fibrosis grades was shown between control and treatment horses. However, when compared with uncatheterized horses, cerebrospinal fluid red blood cell values were marginally higher and protein concentrations were significantly higher in the catheterized group. Lumbosacral and sacral spinal tissue segment inflammation grades, and sacral segment fibrosis grades were significantly higher in catheterized horses. Conclusions: Long-term epidural administration of a morphine-detomidine combination is not associated with apparent adverse systemic effects in horses. Localized inflammation and fibrosis seem to be catheter-related. Conclusions: Potential systemic and local effects are important considerations with long-term administration of a morphine-detomidine combination through indwelling epidural catheters for alleviation of chronic musculoskeletal pain in horses.
Publication Date: 1997-03-01 PubMed ID: 9068165DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1997.tb01477.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Comparative Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research focuses on assessing the impact of long-term epidural injection of morphine and detomidine in horses. The study indicated that long-term administration of morphine-detomidine combination does not appear to have harmful systemic effects in horses, though it may cause some localized inflammation and fibrosis due to the catheter.
Research Methods
- The study involved placing caudal epidural catheters in horses and administering injections through these catheters every 12 hours for a duration of 14 days.
- They used a subject sample consisting of ten horses with epidural catheters that received daily injections and six unharnessed horses that were set for euthanasia.
- The horses received either a mixture of morphine sulfate and detomidine hydrochloride, or an equivalent volume of physiological saline solution via epidural catheters.
- Systemic effects were examined by measuring physical parameters of the horses (control and treatment) and analyzing their consumption of hay and water. Post-euthanasia, their major organs were evaluated.
- The local effects were studied by examining the horse’s cerebrospinal fluid and grading samples of the spinal cord and surrounding tissues for indicators of inflammation and fibrosis.
- Comparisons of local effects were made between control and treatment groups, in addition to comparisons between catheterized and uncatheterized horses.
Research Findings
- No significant differences were found in daily variables or hay and water consumption between control and treatment horses.
- Examination of the cerebrospinal fluid cultures revealed no growth.
- Values of cerebrospinal fluid and grades of spinal tissue inflammation or fibrosis showed no significant difference between control and treatment groups.
- In contrast, when compared to uncatheterized horses, the cerebrospinal fluid red blood cell values were marginally higher and protein concentrations were significantly higher in the catheterized horse group.
- Furthermore, catheterized horses had significantly higher inflammation grades in their lumbosacral and sacral spinal tissue segments, and their sacral segment fibrosis grades were also significantly higher.
Conclusions
- Based on the observed outcomes, it was concluded that long-term epidural administration of a morphine-detomidine combination in horses does not result in apparent adverse systemic effects.
- However, localized inflammation and fibrosis seem to be catheter-related.
- This study reminds that both potential systemic and local effects are crucial considerations when planning for long-term administration of morphine-detomidine combination through enduring epidural catheters, especially if used for alleviation of chronic musculoskeletal pain in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Sysel AM, Pleasant RS, Jacobson JD, Moll HD, Warnick LD, Sponenberg DP, Eyre P.
(1997).
Systemic and local effects associated with long-term epidural catheterization and morphine-detomidine administration in horses.
Vet Surg, 26(2), 141-149.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950x.1997.tb01477.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Analgesics / adverse effects
- Analgesics / pharmacology
- Analgesics / therapeutic use
- Animals
- Catheters, Indwelling / adverse effects
- Chronic Disease
- Drug Combinations
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horses
- Imidazoles / adverse effects
- Imidazoles / pharmacology
- Imidazoles / therapeutic use
- Inflammation / cerebrospinal fluid
- Inflammation / etiology
- Male
- Morphine / adverse effects
- Morphine / pharmacology
- Morphine / therapeutic use
- Pain / drug therapy
- Pain / veterinary
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 3 times.- Douglas H, Midon M, Shroff K, Floriano D, Driessen B, Hopster K. Caudal epidural catheterization for pain management in 48 hospitalized horses: A descriptive study of demographics, complications, and outcomes. Front Vet Sci 2022;9:995299.
- Mirra A, Birras J, Diez Bernal S, Spadavecchia C. Morphine plasmatic concentration in a pregnant mare and its foal after long term epidural administration. BMC Vet Res 2020 Jan 20;16(1):19.
- Robertson SA, Taylor PM. Pain management in cats--past, present and future. Part 2. Treatment of pain--clinical pharmacology. J Feline Med Surg 2004 Oct;6(5):321-33.
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