The pre-emptive effect of epidural ketamine on wound sensitivity in horses tested by using von Frey filaments.
Abstract: To evaluate the pre-emptive analgesic effect of pre-incisional epidural ketamine. Methods: A blinded, randomized experimental study. Methods: Sixteen mixed breed mares, 7.6 ± 2.8 years old, weighing 352 ± 32 kg. Methods: In a pilot study, an incision was made on one lateral thigh using a lidocaine block and no further analgesics, and it was verified that the nociceptive threshold was lower on the incised side than nonincised side (p ≤ 0.05), and that von Frey filaments evoked a pain response. The 16 animals were divided into group A (ketamine, n = 9) and B (saline, n = 7). An epidural catheter was inserted 24 hours before the trials. The thigh was shaved bilaterally, and the right side was blocked (incised side) using lidocaine. Twenty-five minutes later, ketamine (A) or saline (B) was administered epidurally. Five minutes later, a 10-cm skin incision was made on the right side, and then sutured. Nociceptive threshold was determined with von Frey filaments at 1, 3, and 5 cm around the incision at 15-minute intervals for 2 hours, then at 4, 6, and 8 hours. Behavioral alterations, heart and respiratory rates were recorded. Nociceptive thresholds from these points were averaged to obtain mean values at each time, converted to a logarithmic scale, and submitted to a nonparametric analysis (Mann-Whitney and one-way repeated measures anova test, p ≤ 0.05). Results: After 8 hours, the global range score revealed reduced hyperalgesia (p < 0.01) around the incision in 92% (4.65-4.27) of evaluated intervals in group A (ketamine). There were no significant changes in behavior, heart and respiratory rates. Conclusions: It was concluded that pre-emptive epidural ketamine reduced post-incisional pain in the horse, and that von Frey filaments were able to quantify cutaneous sensitivity after tissue damage. Conclusions: Epidural ketamine injection can reduce post-incisional sensitivity in the horse.
Copyright © 2002 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Publication Date: 2016-11-15 PubMed ID: 28404363DOI: 10.1046/j.1467-2995.2002.00083.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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Summary
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The research study evaluates the analgesic effect of epidural ketamine administered before an incision in horses. The application of the drug showed promising results in reducing post-operative pain.
Participants and Methodology
- The study engaged 16 mixed breed mares, aged around 7.6 years and weighing approximately 352 kg. These horses were randomly divided into two groups, group A (ketamine, n=9), and group B (saline, n=7).
- A pilot study was first conducted where an incision was made on one side of the thigh of a horse using a lidocaine block and not using any further analgesics to establish that the pain threshold was lower on the incised side than the non-incised side. This study also confirmed that von Frey filaments can invoke a pain response.
- An epidural catheter was inserted into the subjects 24 hours prior to the trials. The thigh was shaven bilaterally and blocked (incised side) using lidocaine.
- After 25 minutes, either ketamine (for group A) or saline (for group B) was administered epidurally. Following five minutes, a skin incision of length 10-cm was made, the incised side was then sutured.
Measuring the Nociceptive Threshold
- Nociceptive threshold or the level of stimulus needed to induce pain was determined using von Frey filaments at 1, 3, and 5 cm distances around the incision at 15-minute intervals for 2 hours, and then after that at 4, 6, and 8 hours.
- The researchers also monitored changes in behavior, heart rate, and respiratory rate of the horses, along with calculating averaged nociceptive thresholds to get mean values at each time.
- The gathered data were then analyzed on a logarithmic scale using nonparametric statistical methods, including the Mann-Whitney test and one-way repeated measures ANOVA test.
Results and Conclusion
- By the end of 8 hours, the global range score revealed a significant decrease (P<0.01) in wound sensitivity around the incision in about 92% of the evaluated time intervals for the ketamine group.
- The group that received the ketamine injection before the incision did not exhibit any significant alterations in behavior, heart rate, and respiratory rate.
- From the recorded results, the research team concluded that pre-emptive administration of epidural ketamine indeed reduces post-operative pain in horses.
- The study also endorsed that von Frey filaments can effectively quantify cutaneous sensitivity after tissue damage in horses.
Cite This Article
APA
Rédua MA, Valadão CA, Duque JC, Balestrero LT.
(2016).
The pre-emptive effect of epidural ketamine on wound sensitivity in horses tested by using von Frey filaments.
Vet Anaesth Analg, 29(4), 200-206.
https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1467-2995.2002.00083.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, Brazil.
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, Brazil. Electronic address: valadao@fcav.unesp.br.
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, Brazil.
- Departamento de Clínica e Cirurgia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Jaboticabal, Brazil.
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