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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract / The pharmacology of local anesthetics.
The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice1991; 7(3); 489-500; doi: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30482-0

The pharmacology of local anesthetics.

Abstract: Understanding of the pharmacology of local anesthesia is important for selection of a local anesthetic for use in equine standing surgery. In general, the action potential is inhibited by local anesthetics by preventing the influx of sodium ions across the axonal membrane. The physicochemical properties of each local anesthetic determine the onset of action, potency, and duration of action. Procaine, chlorprocaine, lidocaine, and mepivacaine are the local anesthetics still used clinically in horses; lidocaine is the most widely used. The future of equine local anesthesia may see the introduction of longer acting, more potent drugs currently used clinically in humans and dogs as well as drugs not classified as local anesthetics--alpha-2 agonists and opioids--for use in epidural anesthesia.
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Publication Date: 1991-12-01 PubMed ID: 1820222DOI: 10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30482-0Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research examines the pharmacology of local anesthetics used in equine (horse) standing surgery. It explores how these anesthetics function, compares their benefits and drawbacks, and considers the potential future developments in this field.

Understanding the Mechanism of Local Anesthetics

  • The underlying principle of local anesthesia is the inhibition of the action potential in neurons. This effectively numbs the area applied, making it insensitive to pain.
  • This is achieved by inhibiting the influx of sodium ions across the axonal membrane of the nerve cells. By blocking the entry of sodium ions, the local anesthetics prevent the generation and propagation of nerve impulses, thus causing a loss of sensation in the treated area.

Physicochemical Properties of Local Anesthetics

  • Each distinct local anesthetic differs in its physicochemical properties, such as lipid solubility, protein binding capacity and salt form (base or acid), influencing its anesthetic profile- including the onset of action, potency, and duration of action.
  • For instance, local anesthetics with greater lipid solubility penetrate nerve membranes more quickly, providing a faster onset of anesthesia. Similarly, local anesthetics with higher protein binding capabilities tend to have longer durations of action as they stay bound to the proteins in the tissues for extended periods.

Common Local Anesthetics Used in Equine Surgery

  • The study mentions four local anesthetics commonly used in equine surgery: Procaine, Chlorprocaine, Lidocaine, and Mepivacaine. Of these, Lidocaine is presently the most widely used due to its powerful and rapid anesthetic effects.

Future of Equine Local Anesthesia

  • The future advancements in local anesthesia for horses are likely to involve the introduction of more potent and longer-acting drugs. Some of these medications are already used in humans and dogs and could potentially be beneficial for equine surgeries.
  • Besides, the research suggests the potential use of drugs that are not currently classified as local anesthetics – such as alpha-2 agonists and opioids – in epidural anesthesia for horses. Epidural anesthesia involves the injection of anesthetics into the epidural space surrounding the spinal cord, causing an extensive loss of sensation.

Cite This Article

APA
Day TK, Skarda RT. (1991). The pharmacology of local anesthetics. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract, 7(3), 489-500. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0749-0739(17)30482-0

Publication

The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice
ISSN: 0749-0739
NlmUniqueID: 8511904
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 7
Issue: 3
Pages: 489-500

Researcher Affiliations

Day, T K
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, Columbus.
Skarda, R T

    MeSH Terms

    • Anesthesia, Local / veterinary
    • Anesthetics, Local / adverse effects
    • Anesthetics, Local / chemistry
    • Anesthetics, Local / pharmacology
    • Animals
    • Electrophysiology
    • Horses / physiology
    • Horses / surgery

    Citations

    This article has been cited 10 times.
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    7. Imani Rastabi H, Guraninejad S, Naddaf H, Hasani A. Comparison of the application of lidocaine, lidocaine-dexamethasone and lidocaine-epinephrine for caudal epidural anesthesia in cows. Iran J Vet Res 2018 Summer;19(3):172-177.
      pubmed: 30349562
    8. Atiba A, Ghazy A, Gomaa N, Kamal T, Shukry M. Evaluation of Analgesic Effect of Caudal Epidural Tramadol, Tramadol-Lidocaine, and Lidocaine in Water Buffalo Calves (Bubalus bubalis). Vet Med Int 2015;2015:575101.
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    9. Hamed MA, Zahran IS, Samy A, Fayad E, Katouah HA, Farrag F, Abumandour MMA, Sobhy A, Elolimy AA, Okene IA, Shukry M, Elgioushy M. Comparative antinociceptive and sedative effects of epidural romifidine and xylazine in dromedary Camels (Camelus dromedarius). BMC Vet Res 2025 May 17;21(1):353.
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