Segmental dorsolumbar epidural analgesia via the caudal approach using multiple port catheters with ketamine or lidocaine or in combination in cattle.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the analgesic and systemic effects of epidural administration of ketamine, lidocaine or a combination of ketamine/lidocaine in standing cattle.


METHODS
Prospective, randomized, experimental trial.


METHODS
Six healthy male cattle weighing between 335 and 373 kg.


METHODS
The animals received 0.5 mg kg(-1) of ketamine (K), 0.2 mg kg(-1) of 2% lidocaine (L) or 0.25 mg kg(-1) ketamine plus 0.1 mg kg(-1) lidocaine (KL). All the drugs were injected into the dorsolumbar epidural space via a caudal approach through a non-styletted multiple-port catheter. Each animal received each treatment at random. Evaluations of analgesia, sedation, ataxia, heart rate, arterial pressure, respiratory rate, skin temperature and rectal temperature were obtained at 0 (basal), 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 minutes after epidural injection, and then at 30-minute intervals until loss of analgesia occurred. Skin temperature was taken at these intervals up to 60 minutes. All the animals received a standard noxious stimulus; a 4-point scale was used to score the response. A second scale was used to score ataxia and a third for sedation.


RESULTS
The duration of analgesia in the upper and lower flanks in cattle was 140 +/- 15, 50 +/- 14 and 80 +/- 22 minutes (mean +/- SD) after dorsolumbar epidural KL, K or L, respectively. The cardiovascular changes were within acceptable limits in these clinically healthy cattle.


CONCLUSIONS
Dorsolumbar epidural administration of KL to cattle resulted in longer duration of analgesia of the upper and lower flanks in standing conscious cattle, than the administration of K or L alone.


CONCLUSIONS
Further research is necessary to determine whether this combination using this technique provides sufficient analgesia for flank surgery in standing cattle.
DeRossi
Rafael
R
Department of Veterinary Medicine-Surgery and Anesthesiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul, Campo Grande, MS, Brazil. derossi@nin.ufms.br
Bertoni
Rodrigo A
RA
Ruzzon
Rafael Hs
RH
Verde-Selva
Alexandre B
AB
Frazílio
Fabrício O
FO
D015360:Analgesia, Epidural / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000818:Animals; D001259:Ataxia / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000662:veterinary; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001831:Body Temperature / Q000187:drug effects; D057785:Catheters / Q000662:veterinary; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology; D004359:Drug Therapy, Combination / Q000662:veterinary; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D007268:Injections, Epidural / Q000662:veterinary; D007649:Ketamine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008012:Lidocaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D008297:Male; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000662:veterinary; D056152:Respiratory Rate / Q000187:drug effects
D000700:Analgesics; D007649:Ketamine; D008012:Lidocaine