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The Veterinary record2025; e5123; doi: 10.1002/vetr.5123

Examining the arrhythmogenicity of dobutamine when used in conjunction with isoflurane in horses: A retrospective study at a single university teaching hospital.

Abstract: Dobutamine is used to treat hypotension in isoflurane-anaesthetised horses but may produce arrhythmias. Halothane is a volatile anaesthetic that was, historically, widely used in horses, but in one study, 56 of 200 halothane-anaesthetised horses (28%) developed arrhythmias after dobutamine administration. Although isoflurane has largely replaced halothane, it is unknown how isoflurane and dobutamine interact in the development of arrhythmias. Methods: The medical records of horses undergoing general anaesthesia at the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital in 2015 were reviewed retrospectively. Cases were selected if isoflurane was used as the maintenance inhalant anaesthetic agent and dobutamine was administered for the treatment of hypotension. Any instances of arrhythmia occurring following dobutamine administration were recorded. Results: Arrhythmia occurred after dobutamine administration in six out of a total of 148 horses (4.0%). Conclusions: The retrospective nature of this study and the fact that the horses were anaesthetised at a single institution might limit the extent to which the findings can be ge. Conclusions: Compared to halothane, isoflurane has a much lower incidence of arrhythmia when used with dobutamine. However, a larger-scale study is needed to identify risk factors associated with horses developing an arrhythmia induced by isoflurane in combination with dobutamine.
© 2025 British Veterinary Association.
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Publication Date: 2025-01-28 PubMed ID: 39876661DOI: 10.1002/vetr.5123Google 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 article investigates the potential risk of heart arrhythmia in horses undergoing general anaesthesia with isoflurane and dobutamine, highlighting a decline in incidences as compared to the previous use of halothane as an anaesthetic inhalant.

Objective and Background

  • The study investigates the interplay of two medicinal agents, dobutamine and isoflurane, and their potential to induce arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) during general anaesthesia in horses.
  • The motivation behind this research was the historical use of halothane as the anaesthetic of choice, which had a significant number of horses (28%) developing arrhythmia post administration of dobutamine. Isoflurane has replaced halothane in current practices, although its interaction with dobutamine hadn’t been fully explored earlier.

Methods

  • The researchers undertook a retrospective study, going through the medical records of horses that underwent general anaesthesia at the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital in 2015.
  • The selection criteria focused on cases where isoflurane was used as an anaesthetic and dobutamine for treating hypotension (low blood pressure).
  • The primary data of interest were instances of arrhythmia following the administration of dobutamine.

Results

  • From the 148 horses that were part of this retrospective study, only six (or 4%) developed arrhythmia after dobutamine administration. This is significantly lower than the previous 28% (when used with halothane).

Conclusions and Recommendations

  • Though limited by the retrospective nature and the narrow scope, being centred on a single institution, the study shows that there’s a lower incidence of arrhythmia in horses when isoflurane is used in conjunction with dobutamine, as compared to the historical use of halothane.
  • Since the study suggests the cause and effect between administered agents and induced arrhythmia, it calls for further, larger-scale studies to understand and identify risk factors associating the development of arrhythmia in horses when they’re exposed to isoflurane combined with dobutamine.

Cite This Article

APA
Ishihara T, Nieves E, Reed R, Hofmeister E. (2025). Examining the arrhythmogenicity of dobutamine when used in conjunction with isoflurane in horses: A retrospective study at a single university teaching hospital. Vet Rec, e5123. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.5123

Publication

The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English
Pages: e5123

Researcher Affiliations

Ishihara, Toshitsugu
  • Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences, Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia, USA.
Nieves, Emily
  • Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Reed, Rachel
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Hofmeister, Erik
  • Department of Clinical Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, Alabama, USA.

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