Evaluation of lignocaine/bupivacaine mixture for central neural blockade in goats.

The anaesthetic indices produced by the lumbosacral extradural injection of a mixture of 2 mg/kg lignocaine 2% and 0.95 mg/kg bupivacaine 0.5% (LBM) were compared with those produced by either 4mg/kg lignocaine 2% (LIG) or 1.9 mg/ kg bupivacaine 0.5% (BUP) alone in goats. Changes in heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT), including associated side effects, were also recorded. The LBM had longer time to recumbency, similar onset of analgesia but longer durations of analgesia and recumbency than with LIG alone. LBM also had similar time to recumbency but shorter onset of analgesia and durations of analgesia and recumbency than with BUP alone. Changes in HR, RR and RT were not significant. A few side effects of some clinical concern were noted. It was concluded that, despite its longer time to recumbency, LBM had some clinical advantages over the use of LIG or BUP alone for extradural blockade in goats.