Potential effect of romifidine with lidocaine administration in goats

The study was designed to evaluate the analgesic, sedative and haemodynamic effects of romifidine (50 μg/kg) (Group I) or a combination of romifidine (50 μg/kg) and lidocaine (2 mg/kg) (Group II) after subarachnoid administration to indigenous goats. Ten goats weighing between 15 and 20 kg were randomly allocated to two groups (Groups I and II). The drugs were administered in the lumbosacral subarachnoid space. The treatments were compared regarding the affect on analgesia, sedation, motor incoordination, salivation, heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, arterial pressure, central venous pressure and the electrocardiogram. Other haematobiochemical parameters monitored were haemoglobin, packed cell volume, total leukocyte count, plasma glucose, total proteins, urea and creatinine. Onset and depth of analgesia was measured by recording the response to pin pricks in different regions and was graded on a scale of 0–3. The onset of analgesia was faster in Group II (24.2 ± 1.4 s), compared to that in Group I (5.2 ± 0.5 min). Analgesia of the tail, perineum, hind limbs, flank and thorax was mild to moderate in Group I, but complete analgesia of the tail, perineum and hind limbs was recorded in Group II. Motor incoordination/ataxia was mild in Group I and severe in Group II. A significant reduction in heart rate and the respiratory rate was more pronounced in Group II. A significant increase in mean central venous pressure was recorded in both groups. Mean arterial pressure was reduced in both groups, but more markedly in Group II. Sedation, rectal temperature, electrocardiograms and haematobiochemical parameters did not show any significant difference between the two treatment groups. The results of this investigation indicate a possible synergistic analgesic interaction between subarachnoidally administered romifidine and lidocaine, without causing any marked systemic side-effects in indigenous goats.