Continous Nerve Block of the Thoracic Limb in Horses (original) (raw)

Analgesia is of great importance in surgical trauma occurring in horses. In the present, long term epidural analgesia has become a routine method for trauma of the hind limb, but, in the case of the thoracic limb there is no regular similar technique. Continuous nerve block is a method using a local continuous perfusion with anesthetics administered through a catheter placed along the direction of peripheral nerves and it represents a new analgesia technique. This method is frequently used in human medicine to reduce post-surgical pain in body extremities. Continuous nerve block doesn't affect the general state of health of equines, and through the induction of analgesia it encourages healing conditions. The present study aims to develop a treatment method usable on tranquilized standing horses, by placing a catheter along the palmar nerves of the thoracic limb. We have studied the main anatomical points for placing the catheter along the peripheral nerves of the thoracic limb a...