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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Atelectasis causes gas exchange impairment in the anaestheti...
Equine veterinary journal1990; 22(5); 317-324; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1990.tb04280.x

Atelectasis causes gas exchange impairment in the anaesthetised horse.

Abstract: The anatomical basis of gas exchange impairment in the anaesthetised horse was studied by computerised tomography (CT; three shetland ponies) and morphological analysis (one pony and three horses). By means of CT, densities were seen in dependent lung regions early during anaesthesia, both with spontaneous breathing and with mechanical ventilation. The densities remained for some time where they had initially been created when the animal was turned from dorsal to sternal recumbency. Deep insufflation of the lungs reduced the dense area. Gas exchange was impaired roughly in proportion to the dense area. On histological analysis, the densities were atelectatic and congested with blood. Gravimetry showed no more extravascular water per unit lung tissue in the atelectatic than in the 'normal' regions, and the blood content was increased only slightly. It is concluded that the horse develops atelectasis in dependent lung regions early during anaesthesia in dorsal recumbency, and that atelectasis is the most likely explanation for the large shunt and impaired arterial oxygenation regularly seen during anaesthesia.
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Publication Date: 1990-09-01 PubMed ID: 2226395DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1990.tb04280.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research explored the anatomical reasons behind impaired gas exchange during anaesthesia in horses, attributing it to a condition known as atelectasis, where the lung’s air sacs collapse or don’t fully expand.

Research Methods

  • The study used advanced imaging methods like computerised tomography (CT) and morphological analysis to understand the anatomical foundation of gas exchange impairment amongst anaesthetised horses.
  • The sample size for the CT was three Shetland ponies, whereas morphological analysis was conducted on one pony and three horses.

Findings and Analysis

  • The CT imaging discovered high densities in the dependent lung regions during the early stages of anaesthesia, which occurred with both spontaneous breathing and while using mechanical ventilation.
  • The dense areas persisted even when the animals were turned from their dorsal (back) to sternal (front) recumbency. This coincides with the common position of horses during surgery or complex veterinary procedures.
  • Deep lung insufflation, a process of filling the lungs with air, managed to reduce these dense areas.
  • The impaired gas exchange was found to be roughly proportional to the dense area, indicating that these dense regions were interrupting normal respiration.

The Atelectasis Effect

  • A histological examination found the dense regions to be made up of atelectatic tissue, pointing to atelectasis, a condition where the lung’s air sacs (alveoli) collapse or fail to fully expand.
  • No significant increase in extravascular water per unit of lung tissue was observed in the atelectatic regions compared to the ‘normal’ areas which indicate that fluid accumulation did not play a major role in this condition.
  • The blood content in the atelectasis areas only slightly increased, implying that the blood congestion did not greatly impact the lung function.

Conclusion

  • The study concluded that horses develop atelectasis in the dependent lung regions early during anaesthesia, particularly when in a dorsal recumbency.
  • The research suggested that atelectasis is the primary cause behind the large shunt (bypass of the circulatory system) and impaired arterial oxygenation regularly observed during anaesthesia in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Nyman G, Funkquist B, Kvart C, Frostell C, Tokics L, Strandberg A, Lundquist H, Lundh B, Brismar B, Hedenstierna G. (1990). Atelectasis causes gas exchange impairment in the anaesthetised horse. Equine Vet J, 22(5), 317-324. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1990.tb04280.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 22
Issue: 5
Pages: 317-324

Researcher Affiliations

Nyman, G
  • Department of Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala.
Funkquist, B
    Kvart, C
      Frostell, C
        Tokics, L
          Strandberg, A
            Lundquist, H
              Lundh, B
                Brismar, B
                  Hedenstierna, G

                    MeSH Terms

                    • Anesthesia / adverse effects
                    • Anesthesia / veterinary
                    • Animals
                    • Extravascular Lung Water / chemistry
                    • Female
                    • Horse Diseases / pathology
                    • Horse Diseases / physiopathology
                    • Horses
                    • Lung / diagnostic imaging
                    • Lung / pathology
                    • Lung / physiopathology
                    • Male
                    • Oxygen / blood
                    • Pulmonary Atelectasis / pathology
                    • Pulmonary Atelectasis / physiopathology
                    • Pulmonary Atelectasis / veterinary
                    • Pulmonary Gas Exchange
                    • Respiration
                    • Respiration, Artificial / veterinary
                    • Tomography, X-Ray Computed / veterinary

                    Citations

                    This article has been cited 17 times.
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