Problems in Equine Anesthesia: Risks, CV, Ventilation, Recovery Techniques & Complications Flashcards
what are the problems of equine anesthesia (10)
- P(A-a)O2 (VQ mismatch)
- hypercapnia
- hypotension
- fitness
- tympany
- temperament
- myelomalacia
- neuropraxis
- corneal abrasions
- equine post-anesthetic myopathy (EPAM, myositis)
what are intra operatively (anesthesized) problems
CV collapse
respiratory failure
metabolic disease
what are post-operatively (recovery) problem
traumatic injury
myopathy
neuropathy
what are post-recovery problems
post-anesthetic colic
laminitis
organ failure
what are other risk factors (7)
- ASA status
- duration of anesthetic
- pain level and therapy
- temperament of individual horse
- body size, condition and fitness
- breed associated problems
- level of monitoring and degree of intervention by an experienced anesthetist
how can you mitage the risks (8)
- thorough physical exam
- appropriate planning and preparation
- treatment of disease or illness if possible
- delay or reschedule non-urgent procedures
- stabilization of patient as much as possible
- diligent and reactive monitoring of anesthetic by experienced personnel
- complete procedure in as short a time possible
- provide best possible environment for recovery
what is hypotension
reduction in mean arterial blood pressure
what is the normal blood pressure in the horse
70-90 mmHg (concerning <60mmHg)
why do horses develop hypotension (3)
inhaled anesthetic agents decrease
- contractility (reduce stroke volume)
- heart rate
- systemic vascular resistance
what is blood pressure affected by
affected by cardiac output (Q) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR)
cardiac output (Q) = stroke volume x heart rate
mean arterial BP = cardiac output (Q) x SVR
why is hypotension significant
- reduced perfusions of organs (including muscle, lungs, liver, kidney, brain)
- increased risk of other complications (reduced oxygen delivery to tissue, increased lactate build up, equine post-anesthetic myopathy (EPAM))
how is blood pressure measured (3)
- cuff
- oscillometric
- tail or distal limb
what are the advantages of non-invasive blood pressure
quick and easy
low risk of harm
what are the disadvantages of non-invasive blood pressure
- less accurate
- not continuous
what are other more invasive/direct ways to measure blood pressure
place cannula in artery
what are the risks of cannula in artery (3)
- hemorrhage
- infection
- damage to periosteum
what are the benefits to measuring blood pressure with a cannula in the artery
- accuracy and beat to beat recording and analysis
- permit sampling of arterial blood for gas analysis
how do you treat hypotension (3)
- depth on anesthesia?
- hypovolemia? crystalloids, colloids, hypertonic saline (7.2%)
- pharmacological support
what are the pharmacological treatments to treat hypotension (3)
- dobutamine infusion: increases contractility
- ephedrine: increases contractility and SVR
- phenylephrine: increases SVR
what are the most common arrhythmia in horses
primary or secondary AV block
what are the types of AV blocks in horses (2)
- intermittent low grade high vagal tone and fitness
- persistent high grade, drug incuded or disease
what is atrial fibrillation
atrial flutter, atrial tachycardia
large heart, ectopic electrical focus, increased automaticity (can be drug induced)
what arrhythmias are abnormal in horses
ventricular and juncitonal
what is the effect tachyarrhythmias
reduce cardiac output
what are the reasons for tachycardia (4)
- hypovolemia
- hypoxemia
- pain/nociception
- drug induced
what is tachycardia race horses and ponies
>40 bpm race horses
>60 bpm small pony
what is bradycardia in race horse and ponies
<24bpm race horses
<30-35 bpm small pony
what is bradycardia a precursor to
asystole (not a steady decline)
what are potential reasons for bradycardia
- hypertension: baroreceptor repsonse
- hypoxemia: when myocardium becomes hypoxemic
- drug induced
what drugs are used in cardiac arrest
atropine and adrenaline possibly calcium in PEA
what are the effects of hypercapnia
hypoventilation
reduced exhalation of CO2
life threatening
what are the effects of hypoxemia
side effect of hypoventilation
reduced uptake of oxygen
life threatening
why do horses hypoventilate
- anesthetic agents
- positioning
what are the effects of inhalants on ventilation (6)
- decrease ventilatory drive
- desensitize medullary and carotid body chemoreceptors
- reduced minute ventilation
- respiratory acidosis
- increased atelectasis and V/Q mismatch
- hypoxemia
what is atelectasis
complete or partial collapse of the entire lung or area (lobe) of the lung
it occurs when the tiny air sacs (alveoli) within the lung become deflated or possibly filled with alveolar fluid
what occurs when more isoflurane is given
the response of the receptors decreases and the tidal volume gets lower
how does positioning affect ventilation
the weight of the abdominal contents makes it difficult to breath
what is the normal alveolar CO2 (EtCO2)
40 mmHg
how does hypercapnia lead to respiratory acidosis
decreased alveolar elimination of Co2 causes an increase in arterial concentration (PaCO2)
leads to development of acidemia
how can carbon dioxide be measured
end tidal: sampling of airway gases (PACO2)
arterial: by rapid analysis of blood (PaCO2)
where is the most accurate blood gas analysis sample
fresh arterial blood samples
what measured values can you get from blood gas analysis (6)
- pH
- pCO2
- pO2
- tHb
- Hb saturation
- electrolytes
what are calculated values from blood gas analysis (5)
- base excess: relative acidity or alkalinity
- tCO2: total carbon dioxide combines the CO2 in all forms
- HCO3-
- anion gap
- hematocrit
how do you treat hypoventilation
- depth of anesthesia
- provide IPPV
what are the 5 causes of hypoxemia (5)
- inadequate inspired oxygen
- impaired diffusion across alveoli
- hypoventilation: frequent under anesthesia
- VQ mismatch: frequent under anesthesia
- shunting of blood: occurs as result of V/Q mismatching
what is ventilation perfusion (V/Q) mismatching

what is the compensatory response to V/Q mismatch in an unanesthetized horse
- P(A-a) O2 gradient
- hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV)
how do high and low V/Q affect the P(A-a) gradeint
both increase the P(A-a) O2 gradient
what are the effects of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) and what does inhalant anesthetics do to this response
compensatory vascular response that shunts blood flow away from unventilated alveoli
reduces low V/Q mismatch often due to atelectasis
compensatory response is inhibited by inhalant anesthetics
how do you prevent V/Q mismatch
- positioning: lateral better than dorsal, still get atelectasis
- IPPV from beginning: prevents atelectasis
- air:oxygen mixture for delivery gas
how does air:oxygen mixture for delivery gas prevent V/Q mismatch
FI O2 increased risk of hypoxemia, nitrogen inert gas provides a scaffold for alveoli and reduces absorption atelectasis
what are the benefits of IPPV (4)
- may prevent decrease in tidal volume (if used from start)
- will help control CO2 levels (prevent hypercapnia and acidosis)
- use of PEEP (positive end expiratory pressure)
- recruitment manoeuvre
what are the disadvantages of IPPV (4)
- gas will take path of least resistance
- more gas may just flow to alreadly inflated areas so increase V
- may impede venous return reducing Q
- may not improve V/Q mismatch very much
what drugs can be used to treat V/Q mismatch
bronchodilators: salbutamol (inhaled), clenbuterol (IV)
and also affect CV system (vasodilation)
sweating typical
what are the recovery risks (7)
- myopathy, neuropathy, fractures and other traumas
- equipment and facilities
- trained personnel
- duration of anesthetic
- physical state of horse
- age and size of horse
- temperament/breed
does alleviation of pain improve recovery
yes
what is the effect on inhalant dependent on
anesthetic time
+
confounded by other drugs
does post anesthetic sedation produce better recoveries
more composed recovery but longer
does dim lighting help with recovery
makes no difference
what are the techniques for recovery (9)
- free
- hand
- inflatable airbed
- head +/- tail ropes
- lift sling
- anderson sling
- hydro-pool
- pool and raft
- tilt table
what are the requirements of recovery box (11)
- quite
- padded + non-slip
- cleanable
- no corners
- facilities for observation
- close to theatre
- oxygen
- scavenging
- escape route for staff
- wall rings and ceiling hooks or winch
- camera?
what is assisted recovery
usually combined with operative sedation
topical phenylephrine or nasal tube placed
oxygen supplementation
eyes covered with soft towel/ears plugged with cotton wool
how is a head & tail rope recovery done (5)
- continue observations: resp, musculoskeletal, eye signs
- two people per rope or pulley system
- move to sternal/stand ropes kept taught to guide and support rather than haul horse to its feet
- ensure airway is patent, check for residual anesthetic effects and check over for signs of injury
- release from ropes and allow time before moving
what are recovery emergencies (4)
- cast/trapped limbs or head
- airway obstruction
- fractures
- cardiac or resp arrest
what should be in your emergency kit (8)
- ketamine
- xylazine
- syringes
- needles
- sharp knife
- nasal tube
- ETT
- tracheostomy kit
when should food be reintroduced
3-4 hours then reintroduce slowly
what should you check in post recovery
lameness
myopathy
pain
urine and fecal output
colic check for 24 hours
what are recovery complications (6)
- myopathy (EPAM)
- neuropathy (central, peripheral)
- trauma (orthopedic, soft tissue)
- airway obstruction
- colic
- catheter problems
what is EPAM
equine post anesthetic myopathy
one or more muscle groups
muscles are swollen, painful, hard, hot
what are the signs of EPAM
muscles are swollen, painful, hard, hot
myoglobinuria in severe cases
may affect ability to stand after anesthetic
creatinine kinase increases
why does myopathy develop
failure of perfusion/oxygen delivery to muscles
what increases the risk of myopathy (5)
- hypotension
- hypoxemia
- long anesthesia
- heavier horses
- positioning (compression of blood vessels, stretch occlusion)
what is the treatment of EPAM (4)
- analgesia: NSAIDs or opioids
- fluids
- supportive therapies
- vasodilation?
how do you prevent EPAM
- minimize duration of anesthesia
- position and pad well
- maintain oxygen delivery to muscles (BP and oxygenation)
what are peripheral neuropathies (neuropraxis)
pressure or traction on nerve
can be permanent or resolve over time
how should you position the horse
distribute weight evenly –> no pressure points
airbags to support muscles
padding between legs
what is an example of a central neuropathies
spinal cord myelomalacia
what is spinal cord myelomalacia
hind end paralysis
more common dorsal recumbency
no apparent problems during anesthesia
etiology unclear
what are examples of musculoskeletal trauma
- skin abrasions, minor cuts
- orthopedic injury (fractures, disarticulations)
what are ocular traumas
- bruising periocular area
- desiccation of cornea (ulceration)
what is stridor
inspiratory high pitched noise
what is stertor
heavy snoring sound
what are examples of airway obstructions
- sudden or rapidly terminal complication
- stridor, stertor
- nostril flaring
- paradoxical ventilation
- absence of airflow at nostril
what are causes of airway obstruction (4)
- nose in corner of box
- nasal congestion
- laryngeal paralysis
- airway swelling
how does nasal congestion occur
- gravity
- longer anesthetics
- positioning
how do you prevent nasal congestion (3)
- elevate head
- nasopharyngeal tube
- topical vasoconstrictor (diluted phenylephrine)
what are laryngeal complications (3)
- trauma/swelling
- paralysis (pre-existing, stretching nerve)
- unilateral or bilateral
how do you prevent airway obstruction (5)
- gentle intubation
- head position
- avoid overextension neck
- gentle extubation
- checking airflow immediately on extubation
- careful positioning of horse in recovery box
- dilligent monitoring of horse during recovery
how do you deal with airway obstruction (5)
- re-anesthesia?
- re-intubate?
- tracheostomy?
- steroids
- furosemide (if pulmonary edema)
what are factors that increase post-anesthetic colic (5)
- stress
- transport
- anesthetic/analgesia
- surgery
- feeding (or lack of)
what are IV cannula complications (4)
- infections
- thrombophlebitis
- kink/obstruct
- can come off in recovery (hemorrhage if up, air embolus if down)