Comparative analgesic and sedative effects of tramadol, tramadol-lidocaine and lidocaine for caudal epidural analgesia in donkeys (Equus asinus)

• Published in: Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia Vol. 42; no. 2; pp. 215 - 219
• Main Authors: Marzok, Mohamed A, El-khodery, Sabry A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2015; Blackwell Publishing Ltd
• Subjects: Analgesia, Epidural - methods; Analgesia, Epidural - veterinary; Analgesics - administration & dosage; Animals; caudal epidural; donkeys; Drug Combinations; Equidae; Female; Hypnotics and Sedatives - administration & dosage; lidocaine; Lidocaine - administration & dosage; Male; nociception; tramadol; Tramadol - administration & dosage; tramadol; nociception; caudal epidural; donkeys; lidocaine
• ISSN: 1467-2987; 1467-2995
• DOI: 10.1111/vaa.12195

To compare anti-nociceptive and sedative effects of tramadol, a combination of tramadol-lidocaine, and lidocaine alone for perineal analgesia in donkeys. Experimental ‘blinded’ randomized cross-over study. Six healthy adult donkeys. Treatments were tramadol (TR) (1.0 mg kg−1), tramadol-lidocaine (TRLD) (0.5 and 0.2 mg kg−1 respectively) and lidocaine (LD) (0.4 mg kg−1) given into the epidural space. The volume of all treatments was 0.02 mL kg−1. Nociception was tested at the perineal region by pin prick, followed, if no reaction, by pressure from a haemostat clamp. Times to onset, degree and duration of anti-nociception of the perineal region were recorded. Response was tested immediately after drug administration and at: 2, 5, 10, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes post-administration and then at 30 minute intervals thereafter until a response re-occurred. Physiologic data and degree of sedation and ataxia were recorded pre-administration and at intervals for 240 minutes post-administration. Results were analyzed using anova, Kruskal–Wallis tests, and Wilks’ Lambda test as relevant. Significance was taken as p < 0.05. Times (minutes, mean ± SD) to onset and duration of anti-nociception, respectively were; TR 13 ± 1.6 and 220 ± 4.6; TRLD 6 ± 0.8 and 180 ± 8.5; LD 4 ± 1.4 and 75 ± 4. Onset and duration times were significantly longer with TR than the other two treatments. TR never produced complete anti-nociception, whereas the TRLD and LD induced complete anti-nociceptive effects. Duration was significantly longer with TRLD than with LD alone. Epidural injections of TR and TRLD induced mild sedation. Epidural combination of TRLD produced an anti-nociceptive effect in the perineum, which was rapid in onset and had a longer duration of action than LD alone. An epidural single dose of TRLD combination would appear to provide an acceptable analgesic effect in the perineal region of donkeys.