This study was aimed at investigating the effects of ropivacaine, lidocaine or lidocaine combined with xylazine for epidural anaesthesia in dogs. Thirty dogs were sedated with acepromazine IV, divided in to three groups and submitted to lumbosacral epidural anaesthesia using 2% lidocaine with adrenaline (L) or 1% ropivacaine (R) or xylazine combined with lidocaine (XL). Heart and respiratory rates, systolic arterial blood pressure, EtCO2, minute volume and temperature were measured. Cutaneous anaesthesia was investigated using a forceps and thermic stimulus. All protocols produced retroumbilical anaesthesia. The combination of XL produced a more cranial anaesthetic block, with moderate bradycardia. The duration of the anaesthesia was more prolonged in animals treated with XL (240min) and R (250min), when compared to L alone (120min).
lidocaine; xylazine; ropivacaine; epidural; dog
