Recorded: June 2021

ONLINE LECTURE SERIES CONTENT

This 4 part webinar series aims to provide a refresher of pharmacological and anatomical aspects relevant to providing optimal conditions to permit standing surgery in horses, before building on this foundation to describe and discuss the efficacy and practicality of different techniques and protocols.

The course starts by considering options for sedation protocols and provision of analgesia before describing in detail the neuroanatomy and performance of loco-regional anaesthetic techniques. Both presenters have extensive experience of equine anaesthesia and analgesia and welcome attendees’ questions and own experiences for discussion.

Module 1 – Sedation Protocols for Standing Surgical Restraint

Webinar 1 – Basic Concepts & Techniques

Vital to the success of any standing surgical restraint is an understanding of the pharmacology of the agents at our disposal, particularly as relatively few are generally available. This webinar will review some basic pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics principles before discussing individual agents and how they may be used to maximum effect. 

Webinar 2 – Personal Experiences & Literature Review of Protocols

A literature search will return many publications describing intravenous infusion protocols for prolonged sedation in horses. Differing combinations of drugs, rates of administration, physiological consequences and efficacy, both in terms of providing sedation and analgesia are often reported. This literature base will be discussed in light of the presenters’ own experiences.

Module 2 – Pain Management for Standing Surgery

Webinar 1 – Pain Physiology

Pain is a complex phenomenon and providing conditions which permit surgical procedures to be performed in conscious horses can be challenging. Understanding how pain pathways work is key, not only to performing safe and humane surgery, but to minimising the impact of surgery in the recovery period.

Webinar 2 – Pharmacological Management of Pain

This webinar will consider both established and more novel pharmacological agents available for provision of analgesia in horses. The available evidence for their utility and efficacy will be examined and discussed.

Module 3 – Routine Loco-Regional Anaesthetic Techniques

Local anaesthetic agents are very versatile and powerful tools in the clinician’s armoury. The first webinar will cover how these drugs exert their effects and the clinically relevant differences in the more commonly available ones. In the second webinar, some of the more routinely performed techniques, applicable to performing surgical procedures involving the head and distal limbs in conscious horses, will be reviewed.

Webinar 1 – Pharmacology of Local Anaesthetic Agents

Webinar 2 – Review of Commonly Performed Techniques

Module 4 – Less Common Loco-Regional Anaesthetic Techniques

Webinar 1 – Review, Experiences & Limitations of Less Common Techniques

Compared with small animal practitioners, equine clinicians are at a disadvantage regarding the range of local anaesthetic techniques which can be performed safely and effectively. As more procedures are attempted in standing horses, interest increases in developing a wider range of effective loco-regional techniques. This webinar will look at less commonly utilised techniques as well as more novel blocks targeting the upper half of the limbs, neck, back, flank and perineal regions which have yet to gain wide acceptance.