Haemato-biochemical effects of lumbosacral epidural anaesthesia with ropivacaine and dexmedetomidine in goats

Ten clinically healthy goats (1–3 year) were equally divided into two groups. Ropivacaine (0.75%) @ 1 mg/kg body weight was epidurally administered in the lumbosacral space in Gr-I whereas, the goats of Gr-II were given dexmedetomidine @ 2 μg/kg body weight in combination with ropivacaine (1 mg/kg body weight). Glucose, alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase were significantly elevated at different intervals of observation in Gr-II whereas, haematological and biochemical characters (blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, total protein) exhibited non-significant alterations in both the groups. It was concluded that the ropivacaine along with dexmedetomidine produced epidural analgesia with least effect on haematogical and biochemical profiles in goats.