Is There Still a Place for Lidocaine in the (Postoperative) Management of Colics?

Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract. 2019 Aug;35(2):275-288. doi: 10.1016/j.cveq.2019.03.003. Epub 2019 May 7.

Abstract

Intravenous lidocaine is widely used to prevent or treat postoperative ileus in horses. Clinical studies that support this approach are flawed and contradicted by others. Also, physical obstruction could be more important in causing postoperative reflux than postoperative ileus in the horse. The antiinflammatory properties of lidocaine and the role of inflammation from intestinal handling in the genesis of postoperative reflux are questionable. Because of cost and questionable efficacy of lidocaine, a well-designed clinical trial is required to support its continued use. However, lidocaine could be given to provide or enhance analgesia in selected cases with postoperative colic.

Keywords: Colic; Horse; Inflammation; Lidocaine; Postoperative ileus; Postoperative reflux.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Anesthetics, Local / administration & dosage
  • Animals
  • Colic / drug therapy
  • Colic / surgery
  • Colic / veterinary*
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy*
  • Horse Diseases / surgery*
  • Horses
  • Ileus / drug therapy
  • Ileus / prevention & control
  • Ileus / veterinary*
  • Lidocaine / administration & dosage*
  • Pain Management / veterinary
  • Postoperative Complications / drug therapy
  • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
  • Postoperative Complications / veterinary

Substances

  • Anesthetics, Local
  • Lidocaine