Original Research
Neostigmine Combined or Not With Lidocaine for Epidural Anesthesia in Mares

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jevs.2017.06.001Get rights and content
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Highlights

  • Only a few studies have examined the effect of neostigmine combined with lidocaine on epidural anesthesia in geldings.

  • A crossover controlled study was used to test epidural anesthesia time with lidocaine combined or not with neostigmine in mares.

  • No relevant changes in clinical and behavioral parameters were observed.

  • Differently from gelding studies, adding neostigmine to lidocaine has not brought any relevant benefits to the epidural anesthesia in mares.

Abstract

Only a few studies have examined the effect of neostigmine combined with lidocaine on epidural anesthesia in gelding horses. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate clinical effects, ataxia, and the sensory block duration caused by adding neostigmine to epidural lidocaine in mares. Three independent treatments including neostigmine (NEOST), 2% lidocaine (LIDO), or 2% lidocaine combined with neostigmine (LIDO + NEOST) were administered to six mares using epidural catheters. Each animal received all treatments. A cutaneous pinprick nociception test with fine needle was used in perianal, sacral, and lumbar dermatomes in both antimeres. The response (attempt to kick, movement of the limbs, tail, or head toward the stimulus) was assessed immediately before and after each treatment (every 15 minutes in the first hour, and then every 30 minutes thereafter until the animal would go back to basal response). Analysis of variance (P < .05) was used to compare the treatment responses. The NEOST group did not show sign of anesthesia in any of the dermatomes. The LIDO and LIDO + NEOST groups showed sensory block of the perianal and sacral dermatomes, but not of the lumbar dermatome. The mean duration of anesthesia on perineal dermatomes was 58.4 minutes using lidocaine alone and 64.2 minutes when neostigmine were added to lidocaine with no significant difference between these two treatments (P > .05). No relevant changes in clinical and behavioral parameters were observed. In conclusion, adding neostigmine to lidocaine has not brought any relevant benefits to the epidural anesthesia in clinically normal mares.

Keywords

Horse
Pain
Neuraxial anesthesia

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Animal care and welfare statement: All animal procedures had the approval of the Ethics Commission on Animal Use (CEUA) of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

Ethical approval statement: This study was approved by the Ethics Commission on Animal Use (protocol number 99/2012) of the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais.

Conflict of interest statement: The authors declare no conflicts of interest.