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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Anaesth Analg / Equine anaesthesia-associated mortality: where are we now?
Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia2016; 43(3); 242-255; doi: 10.1111/vaa.12372

Equine anaesthesia-associated mortality: where are we now?

Abstract: To review the literature concerning mortality associated with general anaesthesia in horses and to assess whether there is evidence for a reduction in mortality over the 20 years since the Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Equine Fatalities (CEPEF). Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar. Search terms used: horse; pony; equine; anaesthesia; anesthesia; recovery; morbidity, and mortality. Conclusions: The most recent studies, in which isoflurane and sevoflurane have been more commonly used for anaesthesia maintenance, report fewer intraoperative cardiac arrests than older studies in which halothane was favoured. Catastrophic fractures, however, have become the greatest cause of recovery-associated mortality.
© 2016 Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists and the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia.
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Publication Date: 2016-03-11 PubMed ID: 26970940DOI: 10.1111/vaa.12372Google Scholar: Lookup
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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 paper reviews studies on the mortality rates associated with general anesthesia in horses over the last 20 years. The authors conclude that newer anesthesia methods have reduced mortality during surgery, but fractures after recovery remain a significant concern.

Research Review Methodology

  • This study is a literature review, meaning the authors have collected and analyzed previous research on the topic of equine anaesthesia-associated mortality.
  • Searches were conducted using PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, which are popular databases for finding scientific and medical research articles.
  • Specific search terms were used to find relevant literature. These terms included “horse”, “pony”, “equine”, “anaesthesia”, “anesthesia”, “recovery”, “morbidity”, and “mortality”.

Findings from the Literature Review

  • The study discusses trends and changes in anaesthesia methods and the resulting impacts on mortality rates over the past two decades.
  • According to the most recent studies they analyzed, modern anaesthetics, specifically isoflurane and sevoflurane, have been linked to fewer instances of intraoperative cardiac arrests than older anaesthetics, such as halothane.

Postoperative Mortality Causes

  • The study also highlights that, despite progress in reducing intraoperative fatalities, postoperative recovery is still fraught with danger. In particular, catastrophic fractures during the recovery period have emerged as the most significant cause of mortality related to general anaesthesia in horses.
  • This suggests that, while advancements in anaesthesia have decreased the risk during surgery itself, there are still major concerns to address in order to further reduce overall anaesthesia-associated mortality in horses.

Cite This Article

APA
Dugdale AH, Taylor PM. (2016). Equine anaesthesia-associated mortality: where are we now? Vet Anaesth Analg, 43(3), 242-255. https://doi.org/10.1111/vaa.12372

Publication

Veterinary anaesthesia and analgesia
ISSN: 1467-2995
NlmUniqueID: 100956422
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 43
Issue: 3
Pages: 242-255

Researcher Affiliations

Dugdale, Alexandra H A
  • Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Institute of Veterinary Science, University of Liverpool, Neston, UK.
Taylor, Polly M
  • Taylor Monroe, Little Downham, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Anesthesia, General / mortality
  • Anesthesia, General / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Horses

Citations

This article has been cited 28 times.
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