Epidural administration of tramadol and morphine induces long-lasting analgesia in healthy adult horses. Epidural administration of opioids may provide long-lasting analgesia in horses without excitation of the CNS.

No abstract

We studied the effects of running on ventilatory muscle strength and endurance in 11 adults enrolled in a physical fitness program. Twelve healthy volunteers were used as a control group. Maximum expiratory pressure (Paomax), maximum voluntary ventilation (MVV), peak inspiratory flow, forced expiratory volume in 1 s, forced vital capacity, and maximum sustainable ventilatory capacity for 15 min (MSVC) were measured at 0, 10, and 20 wk. At the end of the 10-wk program, the subject group demonstrated a significant increase in both MSVC and MVV. At the end of the 20-wk period, the subject group demonstrated a significant increase in expiratory Paomax (14.4%), MVV (13.6%), and MSVC (15.8%). There was no significant change at the end of the 20-wk period in any of the tests in the control group. These data indicate that running can improve ventilatory muscle strength and endurance in healthy, previously sedentary individuals.

This study evaluated the effect of butorphanol tartrate, a synthetic opioid agonist-antagonist, on halothane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) in dogs. Baseline halothane MAC was determined in each of six dogs. Butorphanol was administered and halothane MAC was redetermined. Each dog received butorphanol at 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 mg/kg intravenously at 1 week intervals. Heart rate and arterial blood pressure decreased after butorphanol administration, but returned to baseline by 50 minutes. There was little effect on respiratory parameters. A halothane-sparing effect was not noted with any butorphanol dose.

Forced air warming blankets may prove successful in minimizing anesthetic-induced hypothermia in cats.

Electromyographic (EMG) recordings were made from the intrinsic laryngeal muscles (cricothyroid, thyroarytenoid) and the diaphragm of the cat to compare the effect of the same dose of different concentrations of lignocaine hydrocholoride applied topically to the laryngeal mucosa. All concentrations of lignocaine hydrochloride tested, two, five and ten per cent, produced desensitisation of the larynx, as demonstrated by a loss of response of the crocothyroid and thyroarytenoid to mechanical stimulation of the mucosa. Desensitisation was produced in a mean of 1.80 minutes in the thirty experiments performed. Return of baseline response took significantly longer when 5 or 10% lignocaine was used compared with that when 2% was used (p <0.05). The usefulness of lignocaine hydrochloride as a topical anaesthetic for the larynx is reviewed.

No abstract

Blood gas values were compared in blood collected from cut toenails and femoral arteries in 50 healthy crossbred dogs that were sedated and allowed to breathe room air spontaneously. Blood samples from cut toenails were collected by microcapillary technique with Natelson tubes. Femoral artery samples were collected by arterial puncture. Blood values for PO2, PCO2, pH, and HCO3 were compared. There was good correlation for pH, PCO2, and bicarbonate, but not for PO2. Microcapillary samples should be collected in 10 seconds or less for the most accurate results. A metal mixing "flea" was unnecessary. When properly handled, the Natelson tube technique provides an alternative method for collection of blood gas samples.