Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Malignant hyperthermia-like reactions in three anesthetized horses.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1983
- Authors:
- Manley, S V et al.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
In a study involving three horses undergoing anesthesia with halothane, several serious issues were observed. These included rising body temperatures, stiff muscles or unexpected movements during the procedure, irregular breathing, and trouble keeping blood pressure stable. One horse experienced prolonged muscle twitching and could not relax after receiving a muscle relaxant, leading to severe inflammation in its triceps, lower back, and hip muscles. The symptoms seen in these horses were similar to those caused by a condition called malignant hyperthermia, which can lead to dangerous reactions during anesthesia. The outcome for these horses was not detailed in the study, but the complications they faced were significant.
Abstract
Problems encountered during halothane anesthesia in 3 horses included increasing rectal temperature, muscle rigidity or movement during anesthesia, irregular breathing patterns, and difficulty in stabilizing blood pressure. One horse had prolonged muscle fasciculations and failure to relax after administration of succinylcholine in addition to halothane. That horse developed severe, bilateral myositis of the triceps, lumbar, and gluteal muscles. Problems encountered were similar to those caused by the disease known as malignant hyperthermia.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/6874529/