Prospective randomized investigation of topical anesthesia during unilateral laparoscopic ovariectomy in horses.
Authors: Koch Drew W, Easley Jeremiah T, Hatzel Jennifer N, Nelson Brad B, Hendrickson Dean A, Bruemmer Jason, Hackett Eileen S
Journal: Veterinary surgery : VS
Summary
# Editorial Summary: Topical versus Injected Anesthesia for Standing Laparoscopic Ovariectomy in Mares When performing standing laparoscopic ovariectomy in mares, surgeons must balance effective pain control with minimising procedural complications—particularly the risk of inadvertent needle trauma to delicate vascular and visceral structures during injection of the ovarian pedicle. This prospective, randomised, blinded study compared pain responses in 15 healthy mares undergoing unilateral ovariectomy, with eight mares receiving topical mepivacaine applied directly to the ovary and seven receiving injectable mepivacaine into the pedicle, alongside appropriate saline controls. Operative pain responses measured by visual analogue scale scoring and perioperative serum cortisol concentrations—markers of stress and pain in equine patients—showed no significant differences between treatment groups, nor did the volume of sedation required to complete procedures. These findings suggest that topical application of mepivacaine to the ovary delivers analgesia equivalent to traditional injection techniques, offering equine surgeons a practical alternative that eliminates needle-related risks whilst maintaining pain control during this common elective procedure.
Read the full abstract on PubMed
Practical Takeaways
- •Topical anesthesia is a viable alternative to needle injection during laparoscopic ovariectomy, eliminating needle-related risks to the pedicle and surrounding organs
- •Both techniques provide equivalent analgesia, allowing surgeon choice based on procedural preference and anatomical considerations
- •This approach may reduce operative complications and simplify the technical execution of standing ovariectomy in mares
Key Findings
- •Topical mepivacaine anesthesia applied directly to the ovary provided equivalent pain control compared to injectable pedicle anesthesia during standing laparoscopic ovariectomy (no significant difference in VAS scores or serum cortisol)
- •All 15 mares completed the procedure without operative complications using either anesthetic approach
- •Sedation requirements did not differ between topical and injected anesthesia groups