Measurement of peripheral muscle oxygen saturation in conscious healthy horses using a near-infrared spectroscopy device.

This study evaluated the reliability and repeatability of using a device called the Inspectra m650 that employs near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) to measure muscle oxygen saturation in healthy adult horses. The findings suggest that this approach is viable, with the vastus lateralis and extensor carpi ulnaris muscle sites providing particularly reliable repeatable readings.

Objective of the Study

• This research was primarily aimed at assessing the viability, reliability, and repeatability of employing near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) muscle oximetry using the Inspectra m650 machine on conscious healthy adult horses.
• The researchers sought to establish whether this device could be used to monitor muscle tissue oxygenation in horses, which is important during general anaesthesia.

Methods

• The study was carried out prospectively, based on observation and involved 30 healthy, adult horses owned by clients who were admitted to the equine hospital during the period between July 2017 and 2018.
• To measure muscle oxygenation, the probe of the Inspectra m650 NIRS tissue oximeter was placed on the hairless surface of five muscle sites on the left side of each horse’s body. The horses were standing and unsedated during this process.
• Triplet readings of muscle oxygenation were taken from each site, and statistical modeling was used to assess the reliability and repeatability of readings within and between muscle sites.

Results

• The readings taken at the vastus lateralis and extensor carpi ulnaris muscle sites showed high repeatability values which were quantified using intraclass correlation coefficients.
• Additionally, measurements from these two areas showed great reliability, denoted by the percentage of successful readings.

Conclusions

• The research concludes that NIRS muscle oxygen technology, specifically using the Inspectra m650 device, is a clinically viable method for assessing tissue oxygenation in horses.
• The data showed that the vastus lateralis and extensor carpi ulnaris muscle sites provided the most reliable and repeatable readings, therefore should be the preferred areas when using the device.