The effect of lidocaine on postoperative jejunal motility in normal horses.

The study explores the impact of Lidocaine on post-surgical intestinal activity in healthy horses, finding it does not significantly affect major components of motility, and thus may not serve as an effective prokinetic agent for this purpose.

Methodology

• Using a non-randomized crossover methodology, horses were induced with anesthesia and by flank-laparatomy, which is a surgical incision on the flank, four silver-silver chloride bipolar electrodes were attached to the proximal jejunum which is part of the small intestine.
• The horses’ electrical activity was recorded for six hours during three recording sessions, beginning 24, 48, and 72 hours post-surgery.
• A saline solution was administered for three hours, followed by administration of Lidocaine for three hours. Lidocaine was introduced intravenously through a constant rate infusion.

Results

• The research found that duration of the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC), a pattern of electrical activity in the gastrointestinal tract, did not change significantly under lidocaine administration when compared with saline.
• Phases I, II, of MMC also did not present significant duration changes with lidocaine, whereas Phase III was found to be shorter.
• Spiking activity, which is indicative of intestinal contractions, remained unchanged at all time periods during Lidocaine administration.
• The number of Phase III events showed no significant difference when Lidocaine was administered.

Conclusion

• Overall, Lidocaine did not significantly alter the duration of MMC, spiking activity, or number of Phase III events.
• The study therefore suggests that Lidocaine may not be an effective prokinetic agent (a type of medication to control acid reflux and heal the esophagus) in this context for normal horses.
• The results of this study do not support the prevalent use of Lidocaine with this aim, although it is possible that results might vary with affected horses.