Evaluation of protocols for gastroscopic examination gastric emptying in horses

Abstract

The prevalence of gastric ulcers in horses is high and gastroscopy is the only reliable way to detect them. In preparation for the exam is necessary that a period of fasting, and often do not provide the complete gastric emptying in this species, it causes stress and can worsen the lesions in the stomach, besides not being shown in some cases. Thus, it is necessary to study other protocols for equine gastric emptying. In literature there are several studies on prokinetic drugs in horses, but very little about its action on gastric emptying and even less about their use prior to the gastroscopic examination. The project objectives are to evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of gastric lavage and three prokinetic drugs (bethanechol, metoclopramide, and lidocaine) in the emptying of the stomach to gastroscopic examination. For that will be used six adult horses without clinical changes that will undergo fasting for three hours and four protocols of gastric emptying: gastric lavage, application of bethanechol (0.025 mg / kg SC), metoclopramide (0.12 mg / kg SC) and lidocaine (1.3 mg / kg IV). After washing or one hour after application of one of the drugs, animals will undergo gastroscopic evaluation which analyzes the presence and type of content found, estimated percentage of visualization of the gastric mucosa, visualization or not the pylorus, and iatrogenic lesions presence of gastric movements during the examination. (AU)