Factors associated with postoperative complications in healthy horses after general anesthesia for ophthalmic versus non-ophthalmic procedures: 556 cases (2012-2014).

This research article examines the complications experienced by healthy horses after general anesthesia for different surgical procedures, particularly focusing on ophthalmic (eye-related) procedures. The study identifies potential risk factors for these complications and suggests ways to mitigate them.

Study Design and Procedures

• The study is designed as a retrospective case series, where the researches reviewed previously recorded data.
• Medical records of 502 horses, amounting to 556 anesthetic procedures, from January 2012 through December 2014 were reviewed.
• Data collected included the characteristic of the horse (signalment), body weight, drugs administered during the surgery, patient positioning, the type of procedure, specific procedure details, procedure time, anesthesia time, recovery time & quality, and any postoperative complications.

Findings of the Study

• The horses had undergone general anesthesia procedures for ophthalmic (eye-related), orthopedic, soft tissue, diagnostic imaging, or combined procedures.
• The research found that on average, procedure time, anesthesia duration, and recovery time were longer for patients undergoing ophthalmic versus non-ophthalmic procedures.
• Excluding diagnostic imaging procedures, there was a significant positive correlation between the duration of the surgery and the recovery time, meaning longer surgeries corresponded to longer recovery times.
• Within ophthalmic procedures, surgery time, anesthesia time, and recovery time were longer for a specific procedure called penetrating keratoplasty versus other ophthalmic procedures.
• There was a higher incidence of postoperative colic (abdominal pain) following penetrating keratoplasty, compared with all other ophthalmic procedures.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

• The results suggest that in healthy horses, the duration of general anesthesia should be kept as short as possible to decrease the risk of postanesthetic complications.
• The study recommends the cautious use of the antifungal medication fluconazole, administered orally, for horses undergoing general anesthesia.
• For horses undergoing a retrobulbar nerve block during general anesthesia, a procedure where anesthetics are injected into the area behind the eye, the researchers suggest that the lowest effective volume of anesthetic should be used.