FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Veterinary surgery : VS2019; 49(2); 329-338; doi: 10.1111/vsu.13347

Comparison between head-tail-rope assisted and unassisted recoveries in healthy horses undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgeries.

Abstract: To compare attempts to stand, duration, quality, and occurrence of injuries between head-tail rope assistance and unassisted recoveries in healthy horses undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgeries. Methods: Randomized, prospective, clinical trial. Methods: Three hundred one healthy horses undergoing elective surgeries were randomly assigned to recover with head-tail rope assistance (group A) or unassisted (group U); 305 recoveries (group A, n = 154; group U, n = 151) were analyzed. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane and triple drip. For each recovery, attempts to stand, duration, quality, and recovery-associated injuries were recorded. Data were analyzed by linear regression and analysis of covariance. Results: Anesthesia duration was similar between groups (mean ± SD, 70 ± 29 minutes). Compared with group U, group A had fewer attempts to stand (median [range], group A = 1 [1-7] vs group U = 3 [1-34]) and shorter duration of recovery (mean ± SD, A = 36 ± 12 minutes vs U = 41 ± 15 minutes). Recovery quality in group A (28 points [15-70]) was better than that in group U (38 points [11-87]). More horses had recovery-associated injuries in group U (9 horses) compared with group A (2 horses). One horse per group was euthanized. Conclusions: Head-tail rope assistance reduced standing attempts, shortened recovery duration, improved recovery quality, and reduced recovery-associated minor injuries after general anesthesia for elective surgery in healthy horses. Fatalities could not be prevented. Conclusions: Head-tail rope assistance may improve recovery in healthy horses after short-duration elective surgeries with isoflurane and triple drip.
© 2019 The Authors. Veterinary Surgery published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2019-11-09 PubMed ID: 31705685DOI: 10.1111/vsu.13347Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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 study explores the potential benefits of using head-tail rope assistance during the recovery of horses from general anesthesia following elective surgeries. The study found that such assistance led to fewer attempts to stand, shorter recovery duration, better recovery quality, and reduced minor injuries compared to unassisted recovery.

Objective and Methodology

  • The main objective of the study was to compare unaided recovery with that supported by head-tail rope assistance in healthy horses post elective surgeries under general anesthesia.
  • 301 horses were assigned to two groups for recovery: group A received head-tail rope assistance, while group U recovered unassisted.
  • A total of 305 recoveries were analyzed—with the number of attempts to stand, duration of recovery, quality of recovery and occurrence of any injuries during recovery being recorded.
  • Anesthesia for surgeries was maintained using isoflurane and triple drip, and the researchers analyzed data via linear regression and analysis of covariance.

Results

  • The duration of anesthesia was roughly the same across both groups, averaging around 70 minutes.
  • The study reported that horses in Group A (head-tail rope assisted) had fewer attempts to stand and shorter recovery duration when compared to those in Group U (unassisted).
  • The quality of recovery for horses in Group A was significantly better than that for horses in Group U.
  • Nine horses in Group U experienced recovery-associated injuries, compared to only two in Group A, showing lesser minor injuries when head-tail rope assistance was used.
  • Despite these findings, fatalities could not be prevented, with one horse from each group, sadly, having to be euthanized.

Conclusions

  • The research concluded that using head-tail rope assistance for recovery post-surgery resulted in reduced standing attempts, a shorter recovery duration, improved recovery quality, and fewer minor injuries compared to unassisted recovery.
  • Although fatalities could not be prevented, the results suggest that head-tail rope assistance could potentially improve the recovery process for healthy horses undergoing short-duration elective surgeries utilizing isoflurane and triple drip.

Cite This Article

APA
Arndt S, Hopster K, Sill V, Rohn K, Kästner SBR. (2019). Comparison between head-tail-rope assisted and unassisted recoveries in healthy horses undergoing general anesthesia for elective surgeries. Vet Surg, 49(2), 329-338. https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.13347

Publication

Veterinary surgery : VS
ISSN: 1532-950X
NlmUniqueID: 8113214
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 49
Issue: 2
Pages: 329-338

Researcher Affiliations

Arndt, Stefanie
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
Hopster, Klaus
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
Sill, Volker
  • Pferdeklinik Bargteheide, Bargteheide, Germany.
Rohn, Karl
  • Institute for Biometry and Information Processing, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
Kästner, Sabine B R
  • Clinic for Horses, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.
  • Clinic for Small Animals, University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation, Hannover, Germany.

MeSH Terms

  • Anesthesia Recovery Period
  • Anesthesia, General / veterinary
  • Anesthetics, Inhalation
  • Animals
  • Elective Surgical Procedures / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horses
  • Isoflurane
  • Male
  • Postoperative Care / veterinary
  • Prospective Studies

Grant Funding

  • University of Veterinary Medicine Hannover, Foundation

References

This article includes 30 references
  1. Johnston GM, Eastment JK, Wood JLN, Taylor PM. The confidential enquiry into perioperative equine fatalities (CEPEF): mortality results of Phases 1 and 2. Vet Anaesth Analg 2002;29:159-170.
  2. Dugdale AH, Obhrai J, Cripps PJ. Twenty years later: a single-centre, repeat retrospective analysis of equine perioperative mortality and investigation of recovery quality. Vet Anaesth Analg 2016;43:171-178.
  3. Young SS, Taylor PM. Factors influencing the outcome of equine anaesthesia: a review of 1,314 cases. Equine Vet J 1993;25:147-151.
  4. Kästner SBR. How to manage recovery from anaesthesia in the horse-to assist or not to assist?. Pferdeheilkunde 2010;26:604-608.
  5. Wohlfender FD, Doherr MG, Driessen B. International online survey to assess current practice in equine anaesthesia. Equine Vet J 2015;47:65-71.
  6. Elmas CR, Cruz AM, Kerr CL. Tilt table recovery of horses after orthopedic surgery: fifty-four cases (1994-2005). Vet Surg 2007;36:252-258.
  7. Taylor EL, Galuppo LD, Steffey EP. Use of the Anderson sling suspension system for recovery of horses from general anesthesia. Vet Surg 2005;34:559-564.
  8. Ray-Miller WM, Hodgson DS, McMurphey RM. Comparison of recoveries from anesthesia of horses placed on a rapidly inflating-deflating air pillow or the floor of a padded stall. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2006;229:711-716.
  9. Tidwell SA, Schneider RK, Ragle CA. Use of a hydro-pool system to recover horses after general anesthesia: 60 cases. Vet Surg 2002;31:455-461.
  10. Sullivan EK, Klein LV, Richardson DW. Use of a pool-raft system for recovery of horses from general anesthesia: 393 horses (1984-2000). J Am Vet Med Assoc 2002;221:1014-1018.
  11. Clark-Price SC. Recovery of horses from anesthesia. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 2013;29:223-242.
  12. Driessen B. Assisted recovery in horses awakening from general anaesthesia. In: Steffey EP, ed. Recent Advances in Anesthetic Management of Large Animal Domestic Animals. Ithaca, NY: International Veterinary Information Service; 2005:A0619.0505.
  13. Taylor PM, Clarke KW. Anesthetic problems. Handbook of Equine Anaesthesia. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:123-176.
  14. Liechti J, Pauli H, Jäggin N. Untersuchungen zum assistierten Aufstehen von Pferden während der Aufwachphase nach einer Inhalationsanästhesie [Evaluation of assisted recovery after general anesthesia in horses]. Pferdeheilkunde 2003;19:271-276.
  15. Pusterla N, Madigan JE. Initial clinical impressions of the U.C. Davis large animal lift and its use in recumbent equine patients. Schweiz Arch Tierheilkd 2006;148:161-166.
  16. Salvador del Castillo B, Matthews NS. How to assemble, apply, and use a head-and-tail rope system for the recovery of the equine anesthetic patient. Proc Am Assoc Equine Pract 2005;51(4).
  17. Rüegg M, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Hartnack S. Vergleich der nicht-assistierten und der assistierten Aufwachphase mit Kopf- und Schweifseil nach Kolikoperation beim Pferd [Comparison of nonassisted versus head and tail rope-assisted recovery after emergency abdominal surgery in horses]. Pferdeheilkunde 2016;32:469-478.
  18. Wilderjans H. The 1 man rope assisted recovery from anesthesia in horses. In: Proceedings from the 10th International Congress of World Equine Veterinary Association; January 28-February 1, 2008; Moskow. Russia..
  19. Bidwell LA, Bramlage LR, Rood WA. Equine perioperative fatalities associated with general anaesthesia at a private practice-a retrospective case series. Vet Anaesth Analg 2007;34:23-30.
  20. Huber C. Verbesserung der Aufwachphase nach partiell intravenöser Allgemeinanästhesie beim Pferd durch Unterstützung mit “Head & Tail Ropes” [Improvement of recovery in horses after PIVA using head-tail-rope assistance]. [master's thesis]. Vienna, Switzerland: University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna; 2009.
  21. Niimura Del Barrio MC, David F, David C. Ten years of using the Wilderjans rope recovery system in horses-a retrospective study. In: Proceedings from the 12th World Congress of Veterinary Anaesthesiology; September 1-4, 2015; Kyoto. Japan..
  22. Niimura Del Barrio MC, David F, Hughes JML. A retrospective report (2003-2013) of the complications associated with the use of a one-man (head and tail) rope recovery system in horses following general anaesthesia. Ir Vet J 2018;71:6.
  23. Clark-Price SC, Posner LP, Gleed RD. Recovery of horses from general anesthesia in a darkened or illuminated recovery stall. Vet Anaesth Analg 2008;35:473-479.
  24. Lammer V. Retrospektive Beurteilung der Qualität der Aufwachphase nach Allgemeinanästhesie bei Pferden an der Veterinärmedizinischen Universität Wien [Retrospective investigation of the recovery quality after general anesthesia in horses at the Veterinary Medicine Teaching Hospital in Vienna]. [diploma thesis]. Vienna, Switzerland: University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna; 2008.
  25. Auer U, Huber C. A comparison of head/tail rope-assisted vs unassisted recoveries of horses after partial intravenous general anaesthesia. Vet Anaesth Analg 2013;40:e3.
  26. Czupalla I. Evaluation des Narkoserisikos an der Klinik für Pferde der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München [Evaluation of the risk of general anesthesia at the Equine Hospital of the Ludwig Maximalian University of Munich]. [thesis]. Munich, Germany; Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich; 2012.
  27. Johnston GM, Eastment JK, Taylor PM. Is isoflurane safer than halothane in equine anaesthesia? Results from a prospective multicentre randomised controlled trial. Equine Vet J 2004;36:64-71.
  28. Senior JM, Pinchbeck GL, Allister R. Reported morbidities following 861 anaesthetics given at four equine hospitals. Vet Rec 2007;160:407-408.
  29. Dugdale AH, Taylor PM. Equine anaesthesia-associated mortality: where are we now?. Vet Anaesth Analg 2016;43:242-255.
  30. Clark-Price SC, Lascola KM, Carter JE. Assessment of agreement among diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia for scoring the recovery of horses from anesthesia by use of subjective grading scales and development of a system for evaluation of the recovery of horses from anesthesia by use of accelerometry. Am J Vet Res 2017;78:668-676.

Citations

This article has been cited 8 times.
  1. Vandaele Z, Van den Broeke C, Merchiers A, Schauvliege S. The Use of an Air-Inflated Pillow for Assisted Recovery After General Anaesthesia in Horses: A Preliminary Study. Animals (Basel) 2025 Feb 15;15(4).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15040564pubmed: 40003045google scholar: lookup
  2. Lindqvist A, Nyman G, Rydén A, Wattle O. Effect of an adjustable ceiling to prevent premature rising attempts after general anesthesia in healthy ponies and horses: A pilot study. Vet Surg 2025 Jul;54(5):851-859.
    doi: 10.1111/vsu.14181pubmed: 39887480google scholar: lookup
  3. Brumund L, Wittenberg-Voges L, Rohn K, Kästner SBR. Risk assessment in equine anesthesia: a first evaluation of the usability, utility and predictivity of the two-part CHARIOT. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1384525.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1384525pubmed: 38846780google scholar: lookup
  4. Straticò P, Guerri G, Bandera L, Celani G, Di Nunzio L, Petrizzi L, Varasano V. Comparison of Xylazine and Lidocaine Infusion versus Medetomidine Continuous Rate Infusion during General Anesthesia with Isoflurane in Horses Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy. Vet Sci 2024 Apr 29;11(5).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci11050196pubmed: 38787168google scholar: lookup
  5. Gozalo-Marcilla M, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R, Johnston M, Taylor PM, Redondo JI. Data Collection for the Fourth Multicentre Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Equine Fatalities (CEPEF4) Study: New Technology and Preliminary Results. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 30;11(9).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11092549pubmed: 34573515google scholar: lookup
  6. Kälin I, Henze IS, Ringer SK, Torgerson PR, Bettschart-Wolfensberger R. Comparison of Recovery Quality Following Medetomidine versus Xylazine Balanced Isoflurane Anaesthesia in Horses: A Retrospective Analysis. Animals (Basel) 2021 Aug 19;11(8).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11082440pubmed: 34438896google scholar: lookup
  7. Vermedal H, Valverde A, Sears W. Effect of anesthesia duration on the quality of recovery in horses undergoing elective and emergency surgeries using the same anesthetic protocol. Can J Vet Res 2021 Jul;85(3):193-200.
    pubmed: 34248263
  8. Gozalo-Marcilla M, Ringer SK. Recovery after General Anaesthesia in Adult Horses: A Structured Summary of the Literature. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 14;11(6).
    doi: 10.3390/ani11061777pubmed: 34198637google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,658 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.