Caudal epidural analgesia in sheep by using lignocaine hydrochloride and bupivacaine hydrochloride

Abstract

The present investigation was conducted to find out the effect of different analgesic drugs in sheep. A series of 30 analgesic trials (caudal epidural analgesia) were conducted in sheep with 2% lignocaine hydrochloride (LH), 2% lignocaine hydrochloride with adrenaline (LHA) and 0.5% bupivacaine hydrochloride (BH) in Veterinary Clinic, BAU, Mymensingh during January to April 2007. Analgesic injection was administered into low epidural space in 3 groups (A, B and C), each consisting of 10 apparently healthy sheep aged between 1 and 1.5 years. Effects of analgesic drugs on heart rate, respiration rate and rectal temperature were monitored. Heart rates significantly decreased but respiration rates decreased nonsignificantly and rectal temperature non significantly increased during low epidural analgesia with 0.5% BH. Heart rates and respiration rates increased significantly when 2% LH and 2% LHA were used. LH (2%) showed rapid spreading and was also free from any side effect. Duration of analgesia was prolonged with 2% LH compared to other analgesic drugs. Peak point of analgesia was more with 2% LHA as compare to other analgesic drugs. There was no significant difference between 0.5% BH and 2% LHA in terms of their analgesic effect. Drowsiness, tympany and shivering were observed when 0.5% BH was used. It appears from the present study that 2% LH was more effective in low epidural analgesia. Key words: Analgesia, peak point, low epidural, sheep DOI = 10.3329/bjvm.v5i1.1319 Bangl. J. Vet. Med. (2007). 5 (1 & 2): 77-80