Pj. Hughes et al., A RABBIT MODEL FOR THE EVALUATION OF EPIDURALLY ADMINISTERED LOCAL-ANESTHETIC AGENTS, Anaesthesia and intensive care, 21(3), 1993, pp. 298-303
Citations number
18
Categorie Soggetti
Anesthesiology,"Emergency Medicine & Critical Care
A rabbit model is described for the evaluation of epidurally administe
red local anaesthetic agents. The technique involves a single injectio
n via the readily identified lumbosacral space in conscious rabbits, w
ith the epidural space being identified by a modified loss-of-resistan
ce technique. The endpoints used to assess pharmacodynamic responses o
f the rabbit model were (1) sensory loss, (2) loss of weight-bearing a
bility, and (3) flaccid paresis. The model was further characterised b
y investigation of endpoint responses to changes in injection volume (
0.1-0.25 ml/kg) and concentration of administered lignocaine solutions
(0.5 to 2%). From these studies, a volume of 0.2 ml/kg was chosen as
a standard dose and a subsequent comparison between different agents u
ndertaken. The rank order for the onset of action, duration of effect
and the observed pharmacokinetic profiles after epidural administratio
n of 2% lignocaine, 2% lignocaine with adrenaline (1:200,000) or 0.5%
bupivacaine solutions are broadly consistent with human clinical data.
These data indicate that the rabbit is a simple (albeit limited) mode
l for the screening evaluation of epidurally administered local anaest
hetic agents.