The effect of lidocaine on postoperative jejunal motility in normal horses

To measure the effect of lidocaine on the duration of the migrating myoelectric complex (MMC) and Phases I, II, and III of the MMC, spiking activity of the jejunum, and number of Phase III events when administered postoperatively to normal horses.

Nonrandomized cross-over design.

Horses were anesthetized and via flank laparotomy 4 silver-silver chloride bipolar electrodes were sutured to the proximal jejunum. Electrical activity was recorded for 6 hours during 3 recording sessions beginning 24, 48, and 72 hours postoperatively. Saline (0.9% NaCl) solution was administered for 3 hours followed by lidocaine administration for 3 hours (1.3 mg/kg bolus intravenously [IV], 0.05 mg/kg/min IV constant rate infusion).

Duration of MMC was unchanged during lidocaine administration (77 minutes-saline versus 105 minutes-lidocaine, P=.16). Durations of Phase I and II were unchanged during lidocaine administration (P=.19 and .056, respectively). Phase III was shorter during lidocaine administration (P=.002). Spiking activity was unchanged at all time periods during lidocaine administration (24 hours-P=.10; 48 hours-P=.95; and 72 hours-P=.12). The number of Phase III events was unchanged over all time periods during lidocaine administration (P=.053).

Duration of MMC, spiking activity, and number of Phase III events was unchanged during lidocaine administration.

Use of lidocaine as a prokinetic agent cannot be supported by this study in normal horses; however, results may differ in clinically affected horses.