Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
International online survey to assess current practice in equine anaesthesia.
- Journal:
- Equine veterinary journal
- Year:
- 2015
- Authors:
- Wohlfender, F D et al.
- Affiliation:
- Veterinary Public Health Institute
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
This study looked at how veterinarians currently handle anesthesia for horses, since it's been 20 years since the last major review on this topic. An online survey was sent out to veterinarians around the world, and 199 of them from 14 countries responded. The results showed that many veterinarians use various monitoring tools during anesthesia, like heart monitors and blood pressure devices, and they commonly use specific drugs to keep horses safe and comfortable. The veterinarians noted that the horse's health before surgery and the anesthetist's training are key factors in how well the anesthesia goes. Overall, the study found a lot of differences in practices, which will help shape future research on equine anesthesia.
Abstract
REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Multicentre Confidential Enquiries into Perioperative Equine Fatalities (CEPEF) have not been conducted since the initial CEPEF Phases 1-3, 20 years ago. OBJECTIVES: To collect data on current practice in equine anaesthesia and to recruit participants for CEPEF-4. STUDY DESIGN: Online questionnaire survey. METHODS: An online questionnaire was prepared and the link distributed internationally to veterinarians possibly performing equine anaesthesia, using emails, posters, flyers and an editorial. The questionnaire included 52 closed, semiclosed and open questions divided into 8 subgroups: demographic data, anaesthetist, anaesthesia management (preoperative, technical equipment, monitoring, drugs, recovery), areas of improvements and risks and motivation for participation in CEPEF-4. Descriptive statistics and Chi-squared tests for comparison of categorical variables were performed. RESULTS: A total of 199 questionnaires were completed by veterinarians from 14 different countries. Of the respondents, 43% worked in private hospitals, 36% in private practices and 21% in university teaching hospitals. In 40 institutions (23%) there was at least one diplomate of the European or American colleges of veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia on staff. Individual respondents reported routinely employ the following anaesthesia monitoring modalities: electrocardiography (80%), invasive arterial blood pressures (70%), pulse oximetry (60%), capnography (55%), arterial blood gases (47%), composition of inspired and expired gases (45%) and body temperature (35%). Drugs administered frequently or routinely as part of a standard protocol were: acepromazine (44%), xylazine (68%), butorphanol (59%), ketamine (96%), diazepam (83%), isoflurane (76%), dobutamine (46%), and, as a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, phenylbutazone (73%) or flunixin meglumine (66%). Recovery was routinely assisted by 40%. The main factors perceived by the respondents to affect outcome of equine anaesthesia were the preoperative health status of the animal and training of the anaesthetist. CONCLUSIONS: Current practice in equine anaesthesia varies widely, and the study has highlighted important topics relevant for designing a future prospective multicentre cohort study (CEPEF-4). The Summary is available in Chinese - see Supporting information.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24593298/