Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Tourniquet-induced hypertension in a horse.
- Journal:
- Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
- Year:
- 1989
- Authors:
- Abrahamsen, E et al.
- Affiliation:
- Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A horse undergoing surgery for an inflamed right wrist joint developed high blood pressure shortly after a tourniquet was placed on its leg. The horse was put under anesthesia using a combination of medications, but within 15 minutes of inflating the tourniquet, its blood pressure and heart rate increased significantly. To address this, the surgical team quickly finished the procedure and switched to a different anesthetic to help stabilize the horse. After the tourniquet was released, the horse's heart rate and blood pressure returned to much lower levels. Overall, the treatment was successful in managing the horse's condition during the surgery.
Abstract
Arterial hypertension developed in a horse anesthetized for arthroscopy and lavage of an inflamed right carpal joint. Anesthesia was induced with xylazine HCl, butorphanol, guaifenesin, and thiamylal Na and was maintained with halothane in oxygen. Arterial hypertension and tachycardia developed within 15 minutes after a pneumatic tourniquet was placed 8 to 10 cm proximal to the right carpus and inflated to 800 mm of Hg. The surgical procedure was expedited, halothane was discontinued and anesthesia was maintained with guaifenesin to facilitate bandaging. Heart rate decreased from 72 to 42 beats/min after the tourniquet cuff was deflated. Mean arterial pressure decreased from 260 mm of Hg to 128 mm of Hg. Differential diagnosis for a rapidly increasing arterial pressure during halothane anesthesia include inadequate plane of anesthesia, signs of pain, hypercapnia, hypoxemia, and/or hyperthermia.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/2917909/