The Taiwan Report

AP ANALGESIA (AA) IN COWS

Summary from Sheila White's article (1982) Murdoch Vet. School, West Australia 6150.

White has recently had good analgesia for 2 abdominal operations in cows. #1 was rumenotomy for rumen/omasal/abomasal impaction.

#2 was large (45 cm) abscess with adhesions in the spiral colon (right incision below the paralumbar fossa).

Three points were used. Cows were >600 kg.

A: BaiHui (GV03, lumbosacral space), depth 5 cm;

B: MingMen (GV04), in the space between lumbar 2-3, depth 4 cm;

C: YaoPang (Veterinary point, at tip of transverse process of Lumbar 1. A long needle (12 cm) was inserted anteriorly (pointed at body of last thoracic vertebra) and angled downwards, to slide under the wing of the transverse process, aimed at body of last thoracic vertebra. Depth 5.5-6 cm.

Needles B and C were joined by copper wire and connected to one lead of 73-10 stimulator. Needle A was connected to the other lead. Frequency 15-28 Hz, square wave.

Analgesia in #cow 1 at 20 minutes.

Analgesia in #cow 2 not good at 20 minutes. Needle removed and replaced. Good analgesia 30 minutes later (i.e. at 50 minutes).

Both operations were satisfactory under EA, with no other anaesthetic required. The operations lasted 2-3 hours. Both cows recovered uneventfully.

Note, for right flank operation, right YaoPang was used. For left operation, left YaoPang was used.

AA ATTEMPT IN A COW IN TAIPEI

by J.H. Lin and P.A.M. Rogers

We attempted to induce AA in a Friesian cow at the Dept. Animal Husbandry, NTU. We have used BaiHui, MingMen and left YaoPang, as described above. The stimulator used was made locally. The frequency was approximately 15 Hz.

The pain stimulus used was to (attempt to) transfix a fold of skin grasped between thumb and index finger using a 1.5", 21 gauge needle. The cow had a very nervous temperament. Any quick touching of the skin (of either flank) by the needle, evoked strong, immediate reflex muscle twitch, and defensive action.

After 20 min. of stimulation, the cow reacted as before to quick needle stimulus and no penetration of a skin fold was attempted because of this. After 30 min. of stimulation, the reaction to quick stimulus was less active but still present on most sites. Then we realised that (because of the nervous temperament of the cow) the reaction to quick needle stimulus might have been due to touch (rather than pain). We then applied slow, gradual and firm pressure on the needle to a skin fold. There was no reaction and it was possible to completely transfix the fold. In c. 9/10 sites tested on the left flank, perinaeum, vulva and upper (posterior) aspect of the udder, no defensive reaction or rapid muscle twitch was elicited on transfixing the fold. Full sensitivity was still present at this time on the right flank and on the right and left thorax.

We concluded that the attempt (our first, using these points) was about 90% effective to the slow transfixion and that the hypoalgesia was limited mainly to the left flank area.