Lidocaine constant rate infusion improves the probability of survival in rabbits with gastrointestinal obstructions: 64 cases (2012–2021)

Abstract

Abstract OBJECTIVE To determine the survival to discharge rate of rabbits with gastrointestinal obstructions treated with lidocaine constant rate infusion (CRI) and other factors associated with survival. ANIMALS Cases of gastrointestinal obstruction in rabbits (n = 56, including 64 events) that had presented to a veterinary teaching hospital from 2012 to 2021. METHODS This was a retrospective study in which data on rabbits with evidence of gastrointestinal obstruction were extracted from veterinary teaching hospital medical records over a 9-year period. Systemic lidocaine treatment, breed, sex, age, temperature at presentation, blood glucose at presentation, and time to discharge or death were evaluated with univariate and multivariate logistic regression to identify factors significantly associated with survival to hospital discharge in rabbits with gastrointestinal obstruction. RESULTS Comparatively, 89.7% of rabbits treated with lidocaine CRI (n = 39) survived to hospital discharge, while only 56% of rabbits that were not treated with lidocaine CRI (25) survived. In the final multivariate analysis, 2 factors were associated with survival to discharge: rabbits treated with systemic lidocaine and male rabbits had increased odds of survival compared to those not treated with systemic lidocaine and female rabbits, respectively. CLINICAL RELEVANCE Results demonstrated that rabbits with gastrointestinal obstruction and treated with a lidocaine CRI were more likely to survive compared to rabbits not treated with lidocaine CRI.