Combination of Lidocaine and Chloral Hydrate as a New Method of Anesthesia in a Rat Model of Ischemic Stroke

Background and purpose: In experimental studies, proper choice of anesthesia method is important for both validity of results and improving the rate of success and mortality. In current study, we examined the effects of lidocaine combined with chloral hydrate for induction of anesthesia in a rat model of ischemic stroke. Materials and methods: In this research, 30 male rats were studied as sham, chloral hydrate, and chloral hydrate + lidocaine groups. Focal cerebral ischemia was induced by intraluminal filament method. Twenty four hours following ischemia, the animals were assessed for sensorimotor neurological deficits and infarct volume. Coronal sections of the brain tissue were stained using triphenyltetrazolium chloride and quantified by an image analysis system. Results: Combination of lidocaine and chloral hydrate for induction of anesthesia resulted in better sensorimotor performance compared with chloral hydrate alone (P<0.01), while no significant different was found between these two groups in infarct volume (P=0.41). Additionally, combination of lidocaine with chloral hydrate produced safe anesthesia in animals with low mortality rate. Conclusion: Combination of lidocaine with chloral hydrate produced safe anesthesia and analgesia, better sensorimotor performance, and low mortality rate in the animals studied.