ABSTRACT
Epidural anesthesia is commonly utilized in veterinary medicine to allow diagnostic, obstetrical, and surgical interventions caudal to the umbilicus in the perineal region of large animal. Addition of a vasoconstrictor to a local anesthetic has been shown to have several beneficial effects. This study was carried out to investigate the effects of lidocaine with epinephrine on physiological, haematological and biochemical parameters in pregnant West African dwarf goats. Four healthy pregnant goats were administered with lidocaine combined with epinephrine (4kg/ml) in the lumbosacral epidural space. Physiological parameters were taken at 30minutes intervals while the hematological and biochemical analyses were done hourly for 3 hours. There were decreases in the hematological parameters including Hb, PCV, RBCs, Neutrophil and platelets after epidural analgesia especially at second and third hours post administration. The glucose, sodium ion, potassium ion, chloride ion, bicarbonate ion increased significantly (P<0.05) at the third hour post administration while the urea and creatinine levels did not show any significant change. The heart rate decreased significantly (P<0.05) post administration of drugs when compared with the onset, respiratory rate increased while the rectal temperature showed a non-significant change. In conclusion, the combination of epinephrine and lidocaine solution for epidural anaesthesia provided a prolonged duration of action without any serious adverse effects in pregnant goats