Ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block increases intestinal motility in normal horses.

The research article explores the technique of ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block in horses and how it affects intestinal motility. The findings reveal that this method can significantly increase intestinal motility in healthy horses without causing severe complications, suggesting its potential use in the multimodal management of colic and paralytic ileus.

Objective and Methodology

• This study’s aim was to outline a technique for ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block in horses and outline its effect on intestinal motility in healthy horses.
• The study was divided into two phases – one focusing on optimizing the technique and evaluating dye deposition around the celiac plexus branches, and the second examining the impact on intestinal motility.
• The first phase used six horses where post-mortem dissection helped confirm dye deposition.
• The second phase of the study involved six healthy horses that were fasted and sedated with 0.6 mg/kg xylazine, IV. This was followed by a washout period before performing the ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block.

Findings

• In the second phase, a significant increase in intestinal motility was observed after applying the celiac plexus block, compared to sedation only. The motility reached its peak between 1 and 3 hours postblock.
• Motility remained elevated for up to 6 hours, showing that the block has a prolonged effect.
• The side effects were minimal with only a temporary ataxia or loss of full control of bodily movements observed in one horse.

Conclusion

• From these results, the researchers concluded that ultrasound-guided celiac plexus block can feasibly be applied and results in an increased activity of the intestines in healthy horses without causing significant complications.
• The study supports consideration of this technique in multimodal management of colic (severe abdominal pain) and paralytic ileus (a condition affecting the ability of the intestine to contract).