Colheita de liquor entre as vértebras C1 e C2 guiada por ultrassonografia em equinos: aspectos clínicos e laboratoriais

Abstract

The analysis of cerebrospinal fluid has diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic value in neurological illnesses in horses. There are different methods for obtaining cerebrospinal fluid, with the collection between the C1 and C2 vertebrae being a more recent methodology, which allows the procedure to be performed in station, without the limitations of general anesthesia and low contamination of the sample with blood, presenting itself as a practical and safe alternative for carrying out this exam. Bearing in mind the advantages of this technique and the scarcity of studies on this specific approach, the occurrence of clinical alterations in healthy horses submitted to cerebrospinal fluid collection by puncture between the C1 and C2 vertebrae – with local dural blockade – and the samples obtained by this procedure were evaluated in the laboratory. The material obtained was submitted to physical, chemical and cytological analysis, and the animals were evaluated considering aspects such as pain, sensitivity, presence of edema, temperature changes and ultrasonographic alterations. Discrete local changes were observed after the puncture, and the procedure was considered safe and simple to perform. Lidocaine blockade was able to reduce the reaction elicited by the passage through the dura mater, as well as causing hyperthermia in some animals (7/10). The samples obtained showed satisfactory quality and laboratory results consistent with the values compiled in the literature.