Clinical and Biochemical Effects of Lidiocaine Hcl, Ketamine Hcl, and Their Combination for Posterior Epidural Analgesia in Buffaloes

This study was performed to clarify the effects of lidiocaine Hcl, ketamine Hcl and their combination injected into the sacrococcygeal space for posterior epidural analgesia in buffaloes. Five adult buffaloes were randomly received 3 treatments with 2 week interval. The treatments were 7.5 ml of lidiocaine Hcl 2% (Group I), 7.5 ml of ketamine Hcl 2% (Group II) and 7.5 ml combination of lidiocaine Hcl 2% and ketamine Hcl 2% (Group III). Analgesic, sedative, ataxic, cardiopulmonary effects, rumen motility and biochemical parameters were observed and recorded. Average of onset and duration of analgesia were 4.8 & 77.0 min.; 3.8 & 25.8 min. and 5.2 & 90.0 min. in group I, II and III respectively. Analgesic areas were tail, perineum and the posterior aspect of hind limbs. There was no sedative effect in all groups. Slight ataxia was observed in one case in group I. The biochemical findings showed significant increase in serum glucose and cortisol in group III especially at 30 and 60 minutes from start of analegesia, while the creatnine level significantly increased in both group II and III at 15, 30, 60 minutes. However, these parameters fluctuated with in normal range and started to recover with in 90 min. Other examined parameters did not show any significant change. It could be concluded that, epidural administration of ketamine Hcl 2% had rapid onset and short duration of analgesia. Combination of lidiocaine Hcl and ketamine Hcl 2% treatment had rapid and long duration of analgesia like lidiocaine Hcl treatment. This study indicated also a possible additive analgesic interaction between epidurally administered lidiocaine Hcl and ketamine Hcl, with transient and minimal systemic effects in buffaloes. 306 El-Daharawy et al.,