Caudal epidural anesthesia in mares after bicarbonate addition to a lidocaine-epinephrine combination.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the nociceptive and clinical effects of buffering a lidocaine-epinephrine solution with sodium bicarbonate in caudal epidural block in mares. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective randomized controlled trial. ANIMALS: Six mixed-breed mares weighing 350-440 kg. METHODS: Each animal was administered two caudal epidural injections, 72 hours apart, using different solutions prepared immediately before injection. The control solution was 7 mL 2% lidocaine hydrochloride with epinephrine hemitartrate (1:200,000) added to 3 mL sterile water for injection (pH 2.9). The alkalinized solution was 7 mL of lidocaine-epinephrine solution added to 2.3 mL sterile water for injection and 0.7 mL 8.4% sodium bicarbonate (pH 7.4). Nociception was evaluated by response to skin pinching at 31 sites in the sacral region and around the perimeter of the anogenital area (distances of 10, 15 and 20 cm) before, and 5, 10 and 15 minutes after epidural injection, then every 15 minutes until the return of nociception in all evaluated sites. The onset and duration times, and intensity of ataxia (grades 0 to 3) were recorded. The paired t test was used to compare the onset and duration of anesthesia and ataxia (p<0.05). RESULTS: Alkalization of the solution resulted in significant decreases in the average time of onset of loss of nociception in the sacral region (40%) and around the perimeter of the anogenital area extending up to 5 cm (36%) and from 5 to 10 cm (32%) from the anus and vulva. Alkalization also decreased the average duration of ataxia (33%), without affecting the duration and extent of anesthesia or the degree of ataxia. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Alkalization of lidocaine-epinephrine solution is advantageous in shortening the duration of ataxia and hastening the onset of anesthesia in areas adjacent to the anogenital area, without reducing the duration of epidural anesthesia, in mares.