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. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective, randomized, experimental trial. ANIMALS: 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. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Further research is necessary to determine whether this combination using this technique provides sufficient analgesia for flank surgery in standing cattle.

Evaluation of segmental dorsolumbar epidural analgesia with ketamine hydrochloride administered by use of nonstyletted multiple-port catheters via the caudal approach in cattle.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate use of nonstyletted multiple-port catheters for epidural administration of ketamine hydrochloride via the caudal approach to induce analgesia of the paralumbar fossa (flank) in cattle. ANIMALS: 6 healthy bulls. PROCEDURES: 1 week before experiments began, a multiple-port catheter was inserted by use of a Tuohy needle in all cattle via the caudal approach (between the first and second coccygeal vertebrae); the tip was threaded approximately 48 cm cranial into the dorsolumbar region. Each bull was administered ketamine (0.3, 0.5, or 0.7 mg/kg) at time 0. Heart rate, blood pressures, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, analgesia, sedation, and ataxia were determined before treatment (baseline [time 0]); at 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 minutes; and every 30 minutes thereafter until end of analgesia. RESULTS: All multiple-port catheters were threaded with negligible resistance into the dorsolumbar region in all bulls. All doses of ketamine were effective for inducing analgesia of the flank region of bulls in a standing position. Total analgesia time was dose dependent (35, 50, and 80 minutes for 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mg/kg, respectively). All doses of ketamine induced mild or moderate ataxia. Heart rate changes were within acceptable limits. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Segmental dorsolumbar epidural analgesia with ketamine administered via multiple-port catheters by use of the caudal approach in cattle was feasible, and the cattle remained standing with minimal adverse effects. Further studies are necessary to determine whether this technique provides optimal conditions to allow surgery in standing cattle.