CAUDAL EPIDURAL-ANESTHESIA IN EQUINE PRAC TICE - ANATOMICAL AND TECHNICAL ASPECTS

Caudal epidural anesthesia is a well known technique, easy to perform, presenting numerous advantages in equine practice. It allows for most surgical interventions in the perineal area on a standing horse, thus reducing costs and the risk of general anesthesia. However, there are technical, anatomical and pharmacological obstacles limiting its curr ent utilization. Relying on the author's personal anatomical preparati ons, illustrations and bibliographic sources, this article proposes de scription of chosen anatomical region. Different punction techniques o f the caudal epidural space are also described and their advatages and inconvenients discussed. The choice of anesthetics is presented accor ding to their pharmacological effects. New techniques using drug assoc iations are also mentioned, indications and complications of caudal ep idural anesthesia are briefly reviewed.