Lumbosacral Epidural Space Research Articles

The cardiopulmonary effects of placing fentanyl or medetomidine in the lumbosacral epidural space of isoflurane-anesthetized cats.

The cardiopulmonary effects of fentanyl (4 micrograms/kg) or medetomidine (10 micrograms/kg) in saline injected epidurally were measured for 2 hours in 15 isoflurane (2.4%)-anesthetized cats. One milliliter of saline without drug was used to control for saline and volume of injection. Baseline was taken as preinjection time 0. Medetomidine significantly increased (P < .05) mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) 5 to 20 minutes postinjection (PI) compared with baseline. MAP significantly decreased 30 to 120 minutes PI compared with baseline. Fentanyl significantly decreased MAP 5 to 120 minutes PI compared with baseline. Heart rate and respiratory rates significantly decreased in the medetomidine and fentanyl groups 5 to 120 minutes PI compared with baseline. Arterial pCO2 significantly increased while arterial pH significantly decreased 15 to 120 minutes PI in the fentanyl and medetomidine groups compared with baseline. Blood bicarbonate concentration significantly increased 90 to 120 minutes PI in the medetomidine group compared with baseline.

The analgesic effects of administering fentanyl or medetomidine in the lumbosacral epidural space of cats.

The analgesic effects of fentanyl (4 micrograms/kg) and medetomidine (10 micrograms/kg) in 1 mL saline injected epidurally were measured in 15 cats. The response to an electrical cutaneous stimulus from a constant current generator was used as the index of analgesia. The stimulus was applied to a forelimb before epidural injection, and at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180, 240, and 300 minutes post-injection (PI). The hindlimb was tested 5 minutes later. One mL saline only was used to control for volume of injection and saline. Medetomidine significantly increased the pain threshold for the hindlimb at 20 to 245 minutes PI compared with the preinjection level. Fentanyl significantly increased the pain threshold at 20 minutes PI only compared with preinjection levels. Medetomidine significantly increased the pain threshold of the forelimb at 15 to 120 minutes PI compared with the preinjection levels. Fentanyl did not significantly increase the pain threshold of the forelimb. Administration of medetomidine produced emesis in 12 of 15 cats in an average of 6.4 minutes PI (range, 3 to 11 minutes) and mild sedation in all cats. Injection of fentanyl produced no visible side effects in any of the cats.