Comparative evaluation of ropivacaine, bupivacaine and xylazine-ketamine combination for epidural analgesia in uraemic goats

Abstract

A study was conducted on 18 male goats (5–7 months old and 10–15 kg body weight) presented with clinical urethral obstruction at Referral Veterinary Polyclinic, IVRI, Izatnagar. The goats were randomly divided into three groups (A, B and C) of six animals each. Lumbosacral epidural ropivacaine (0.6 mg/kg), bupivacaine (0.5 mg/kg) and xylazine-ketamine (0.025 mg/kg and 2.5 mg/kg) were administered to groups A, B and C, respectively. The onset, depth, extent and duration of analgesia, haemoglobin concentration, packed cell volume, total leukocyte count, differential leukocyte count, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein and blood glucose were evaluated. The onset of analgesia was earliest (0.58±0.1 min) in ropivacaine group. Xylazine-ketamine, bupivacaine and ropivacaine produced complete analgesia of tail, perineum, inguinal region and thigh. Xylazine-ketamine produced analgesia of longer duration (108.83±8.5 min) as compared to bupivacaine (89.33+10.4 min) or ropivacaine (45.16+5.7 min). Very mild to complete sedation was observed in group C only. Recovery was faster with ropivacaine (46±5.8 min) followed by bupivacaine (89.66±10.4 min) and xylazine-ketamine combination (111.66±7.3 min). Xylazine-ketamine combination produced a significant decrease in heart and respiratory rates and rectal temperature. The changes in haemato-biochemical and blood electrolyte values were small and transient. The results of this study suggested that ropivacaine may be used for short surgical procedures; however, xylazine and ketamine combination may be considered for longer duration surgery/post operative analgesia in uraemic goats.