Many clinical case reports have suggested that sustained opioid exposure can elicit unexpected, paradoxical pain. Here, we explore the possibility that (1) opioid-induced pain results from tonic activation of descending pain facilitation arising in the rostral ventromedial medulla (RVM) and (2) the presence of such pain manifests behaviorally as antinociceptive tolerance. Rats implanted subcuta...

BACKGROUND Phenol and alcohol have been used to ablate nerves to treat pain but are not specific for nerves and can damage surrounding soft tissue. Lidocaine at concentrations > 8% injected intrathecal in the animal model has been shown to be neurotoxic. Tests the hypothesis that 10% lidocaine is neurolytic after a peri-neural blockade in an ex vivo experiment on the canine sciatic nerve. MET...

Objective: Euthanasia of animals is a highly stressful situation for veterinarians and may be source of ethical dilemmas; also, it is very difficult to decide “which technique is more appropriate for the given situation”? The aim of this study was to describe a new humane method for on-farm euthanasia. Design: Pilot clinical trial. Animals: thirteen animals including three horses, six sheep ...

This study examined anesthetic development and hemodynamic changes during two techniques of hyperbaric lidocaine administration through 27-gauge intrathecal catheters for continuous spinal anesthesia in 55 elderly patients undergoing transurethral prostatic resection. Twenty-five patients were randomly assigned to receive hyperbaric lidocaine 5% solution in a single bolus of 75 mg to achieve bl...

BACKGROUND Intrathecal lidocaine hydrochloride under general anesthesia has been used as an alternative method of euthanasia in equids. Carnivore, scavenger, and even human consumption of horse meat from carcasses have been anecdotally reported in rural areas after this method of euthanasia. The presence of drug residues in horse meat has not been investigated. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES To invest...

We read with much interest the case report titled 'Cardiopulmonary Arrest Following Cervical Epidural Steroid Injection' by Stauber et al (1) in the March/April 2012 issue. The case report highlighted a cardiopulmonary arrest which occurred within 5 seconds after the injection of epidural steroid in 1% lidocaine. The quoted amount of betamethasone was 12 mg in a total volume of 4 mL. Assuming a...