Comparison of intraoperative effects of intratesticular lidocaine and procaine on hemodynamic responses in male cats undergoing routine castration

This study was aimed to compare the effects of intratesticularly administered lidocaine and procaine on perioperative nocifensive responses in cats undergoing elective castration. Sixteen male cats (weighing between 2.3 and 6.7 kg, and 8 mounths to 3 years of age) were received for planned castration and suitable for inclusion. Cats were incidentally divided to 2: the lidocaine (group 1) and the procaine (group 2) groups. In group 1, lidocaine (1 mg/kg) was slowly injected to the right testis of the cats with a hypodermic syringe. In group 2, 1 mg/kg procaine was slowly injected to the right testis with the same technique. Besides to objective follow-up clinical monitoring, heart rate, electrocardiogram, respiration frequency, pulse oximetry, rectal temperature and blood pressure were traced during surgery with a bedside monitor. Respiration frequency values were significantly higher than before surgey at the first prescrotal incision and the clamping of the left testicular pediclein group 1 (p < 0.05). BP diastolic values significantly increased from before surgeryat the clamping of right testicular pedicle in the procaine group (p < 0.05). These findings suggested that intratesticular procaine is a beneficial analgesic technique in cats undergo planned castration and should be considered as an adjunct to standard anesthetic practice with lidocaine.