VPT 321: Veterinary Neuropharmacology (2+1)

Types of local anaesthesia

FORMS OF LOCAL ANASTHESIA 

• Topical as solutions, gels, ointments, powders, to the skin or mucous memberane of the eye, ear, nose, mouth, pharynx, urethra, uterus or teat canal – lignocaine, tetracaine or amethocaine
• Infiltration – highly diluted local anaesthetic solution in small quantities is injected subcutaneously in multiple places in the area of surgery. Lignocaine, procaine, bupivacaine, or mepivacaine
• Peripheral Nerve Block – Injecting the local anaesthetic  in the vicinity of the peripheral nerve or plexus. esp. for limbs. Eg. Plantar or median nerve block in cattle lignocaine, procaine, bupivacaine, or mepivacaine
• Paravertebral Anaesthesia – drugs applied to the spinal nerves as they emerge from the intervertebral foramen - anaesthetises a large area
• Used for caesarean or rumenotomy in cattle ( done in a standing cattle)
• Epidural Block – injecting into the epidural space at the lumbosacral junction. For any procedure to be conducted on the pelvic region and beyond. Other drugs like opioids, alpha 2 agonists, NSAIDs, corticosteroids etc. can be used to increase efficacy
• Spinal block - Injection into CSF – not normally practiced
• Regional anaesthesia/retrograde anaesthesia – Injected intravenously into an area desired for anaesthesia and a tourniquet is applied above the site of injection.  After the procedure, the tourniquet is loosened and the drug effect wanes due to dilution - eg: lignocaine, bupivacaine, or mepivacaine can be used.