Comparison of the analgesic, clinicophysiological and hematobiochemical effects of epidural bupivacaine in healthy and uremic goats

The analgesic effect of bupivacaine (0.5 mg/kg) was evaluated in the uremic (n = 6) and healthy goats (n = 6) after its lumbosacral epidural administration by clinicophysiological and hematobiochemical parameters. The onset of analgesia was delayed in uremic animals than in healthy animals. Bupivacaine produced complete analgesia of tail, perineum, inguinal and thigh regions in both groups. However, in healthy animals it produced a longer duration of complete analgesia than in uremic animals. Greater ataxia was produced in healthy animals than in uremic animals. The heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, hemoglobin, packed cell volume and differential leukocyte count did not show any significant changes in both healthy and uremic animals. However, total leukocyte count, urea nitrogen and creatinine showed significantly higher values in uremic animals. The blood electrolytes, blood gases and acid base parameters did not show any significant changes in any group. However, base excess was significantly higher in uremic animals. The changes in these parameters were however, minimal and transient and became normal as the effect of the drug was over. Therefore, bupivacaine (0.5% solution at 0.5 mg/kg) may be used in clinical situations in uremic caprines and in the animals which are under a similar type of physiological stress. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.