Local anaesthesia in farm practice

Question 1

Procaine vs lidocaine

Answer 1

Licensing:
Procaine - Licensed product available in UK
Lidocaine - No licensed product available in UK

Approved use in
Procaine - Approved for use in all food producing species. Approved for use in all areas of the UK and EU
Lidocaine - Approved for use in equines, bovines and pigs only. Bovine and pig use only approved in GB, not NI or EU. (NB. Is also approved for use in USA so is often referred to in American texts)

Licensed products include
Procaine - Licensed products include adrenaline (epinephrine)
Lidocaine - Licensed products for horses* include adrenaline (epinephrine) (*for cascade use)

Other names
Procaine - Only known as Procaine
Lidocaine - Also known as Lignocaine
(an old term but still sometimes used)

Question 2

Regional & local anaesthetic blocks - indications for use

Answer 2

Sheep & goats:
- procaine (1st choice, licensed product)

Cattle:
- procaine (1st choice, licensed product)
- lidocaine (off licence)

Question 3

Epidural - indications for use

Answer 3

Sheep & goats:
- no licensed product
- procaine (*Procaine/adrenaline combination is the only product available but is off licence as it states in the datasheet that epidural use is contraindicated. This because there is a risk of causing vasoconstriction and spinal cord ischaemia. these products should be used with caution if administered epidurally and should be used only at caudal epidural sites after spinal cord has ended (i.e. only use when at cauda equina))

Cattle:
- no licensed product
- procaine (*Procaine/adrenaline combination is the only product available but is off licence as it states in the datasheet that epidural use is contraindicated. This because there is a risk of causing vasoconstriction and spinal cord ischaemia. these products should be used with caution if administered epidurally and should be used only at caudal epidural sites after spinal cord has ended (i.e. only use when at cauda equina))
- lidocaine (off licence)

Question 4

IVRA indications for use

Answer 4

Sheep & goats:
- procaine (1st choice, licensed)

Cattle:
- procaine (1st choice, licensed)
- lidocaine (off license)