Topic:Hypercapnia
Hypercapnia in horses refers to an elevated level of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the blood, which can result from hypoventilation, respiratory disorders, or environmental factors. This condition can influence the respiratory and acid-base balance in equine physiology. In horses, hypercapnia can be associated with various clinical scenarios, such as anesthesia or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Monitoring CO2 levels is important for assessing respiratory function and ensuring proper management of affected horses. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the causes, physiological effects, and management strategies for hypercapnia in equine health.
Effect of hypercapnia on the arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine in horses anesthetized with guaifenesin, thiamylal sodium, and halothane. The effect of hypercapnia on the arrhythmogenic dose of epinephrine (ADE) was investigated in 14 horses. Anesthesia was induced with guaifenesin and thiamylal sodium and was maintained at an endtidal halothane concentration between 0.86 and 0.92%. Base-apex ECG, cardiac output, and facial artery blood pressure were measured and recorded. The ADE was determined at normocapnia (arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide [PaCO2] = 35 to 45 mm of Hg), at hypercapnia (PaCO2 = 70 to 80 mm of Hg), and after return to normocapnia. Epinephrine was infused at arithmetically spaced increasing rates (ini...
Electrocardiographic findings during parturition and blood gas tensions immediately after birth in thoroughbred foals. In 101 newborn Thoroughbred foals and foaling mares, 45 fetal (FECGs) and 101 neonatal electrocardiograms (NECGs) were obtained to investigate neonatal arrhythmias and other parameters including changes in fetal (FHR) and neonatal heart rate (NHR). Moreover, umbilical arterial, venous and jugular venous blood gas tensions and pH immediately after birth were analyzed to compare with the type and the degree of neonatal arrhythmias. Before delivery, in 37 fetuses FHR gradually decreased while in 8 cases it increased after rupture of the chorio-allantois. Abnormal deliveries were related in 5 of t...
Hemodynamic effects of carbon dioxide during intermittent positive-pressure ventilation in horses. The hemodynamic effects of high arterial carbon dioxide pressure (PaCO2) during anesthesia in horses were studied. Eight horses were anesthetized with xylazine, guaifenesin, and thiamylal, and were maintained with halothane in oxygen (end-tidal halothane concentration = 1.15%). Baseline data were collected while the horses were breathing spontaneously; then the horses were subjected to intermittent positive-pressure ventilation, and data were collected during normocapnia (PaCO2, 35 to 45 mm of Hg), moderate hypercapnia (PaCO2, 60 to 70 mm of Hg), and severe hypercapnia (PaCO2, 75 to 85 mm of H...
Tourniquet-induced hypertension in a horse. 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 beat...
Ventilatory responses of the horse to exercise: effect of gas collection systems. Experiments were undertaken to determine whether respiratory masks worn by horses exercising strenuously on a treadmill may interfere with normal gas exchange. Four collection systems, two flow-through systems and two incorporating one-way valve systems with subject-generated airflow were studied. Six horses performed standard treadmill exercise tests consisting of a 2-min warm up followed by galloping 1 min each at 8,9, and 10 m/s. Each horse exercised six times while wearing each of the four respiratory masks. Each flow-through system was used twice with flow rates of 2,360 and 3,840 l/min f...
Succinylcholine infusion associated with hyperthermia in ponies anesthetized with halothane. Succinylcholine was administered by infusion to halothane-anesthetized ponies to determine dosage requirements for surgical relaxation up to 3 hours' duration. This was not possible to do, since 4 of 6 ponies studied developed severe reactions characterized by prolonged muscle fasciculations after the initial succinylcholine dose, muscle rigidity, hyperthermia, hypercapnia, tachycardia, increasing pulse pressure, and metabolic acidosis. The reactions resembled those associated with malignant hyperthermia, a disease recognized in persons and swine. Two ponies showed signs of the phase II or des...
Comparison of circulatory and respiratory effects of isoflurane and halothane anesthesia in horses. Circulatory and respiratory effects of alveolar concentrations of 1.31, 1.97, and 2.62 vol% of isoflurane in oxygen were studied in eight young, healthy horses during spontaneous and controlled ventilation. These isoflurane concentrations were equivalent, respectively, to 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 times the minimal alveolar concentration of isoflurane, which prevents movement in horses in response to a standard pain stimulus. Results of the isoflurane studies were compared with similarly derived findings in these same horses during equipotent halothane in oxygen anesthesia. Isoflurane, similar to halo...