La somministrazione di un bolo di lidocaina per via endovenosa diminiuisce il riflesso tussigeno durante BAL nel cavallo

The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of one bolus of intravenous lidocaine in reducing the cough response during BAL in horses. Thirty healthy female trotter were enrolled in the prospective experimental randomized double blind study. Horses were divided in two groups: one group received lidocaine 1.5 mg/kg and the other received saline solution in the same volume of lidocaine, both intravenously over 15 minutes. Heart rate, respiratory rate, mean arterial pressure were monitored and registered all over the procedure. Horses were sedated with xylazine 0.4 mg/kg intravenously. The cough response was measure by a 3 point scale (0=no response, 1= less than 2 coughs 2= more than 2 coughs). A significant difference in the cough score between the 2 groups was observed, with a lower score showed in the lidocaine group. No side effects were evidenced during the treatments. In conclusion lidocaine administered intravenously could be a safe and efficacious method to decrease the cough response during BAL in horses.