Response to nasopharyngeal oxygen administration in horses with lung disease.
Abstract: Guidelines for administration of oxygen to standing horses are unavailable because previous investigations of the efficacy of oxygen administration to increase arterial oxygenation in standing horses have produced equivocal results. Objective: To determine the effect of nasal oxygen supplementation on inspired and arterial blood gas tensions in control horses and those with moderate to severe recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). Methods: Normal horses (n = 6) and horses during an attack of RAO induced by stabling (n = 6) were studied. Oxygen was administered through either one or 2 cannulae, passed via the nares into the nasopharynx to the level of the medial canthus of each eye. Intratracheal inspired oxygen and carbon dioxide concentration and arterial blood gas tensions were measured at baseline and during delivery of 5, 10, 15, 20 and 30 l/min oxygen. Results: Nasal cannulae and all but the highest oxygen flow rates were well tolerated. Fractional inspired oxygen concentration (F(I)O2) increased with flow but was significantly lower at all flow rates in horses with RAO compared with controls. Arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) was significantly increased (P < 0.001) by all flow rates, but was always lower in RAO-affected animals. At 30 l/min, PaO2 increased to 319 +/- 31 mmHg in control horses and 264 +/- 69 mmHg in horses with RAO. Additionally, a large arterial to end-tidal gradient for CO2 in RAO-affected horses was observed, indicating increased alveolar deadspace ventilation in these animals. Conclusions: The use of nasal cannulae to deliver oxygen effectively increases both F(I)O2 and PaO2 in horses with moderate to severe RAO. Oxygen flow rates up to 20 l/min are well tolerated, but flow rates of 30 l/min produce occasional coughing or gagging. Conclusions: Oxygen therapy delivered by means of an intranasal cannula is a highly effective means of increasing arterial oxygen tension in horses with respiratory disease. Generally, flows of 10-20 l/min should be effective. If higher flows (20-30 l/min) are necessary, they should be delivered by means of 2 cannulae.
Publication Date: 2006-05-19 PubMed ID: 16706275DOI: 10.2746/042516406776866345Google 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.
- 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.
The research article explores the effectiveness of oxygen administration via nasal cannulae in standing horses with lung disease, particularly those with recurrent airway obstruction (RAO). It establishes that such oxygen therapy significantly increases both inspired and arterial oxygen levels without causing discomfort, with flow rates of up to 20 l/min preferred.
Research Methodology
- The study involved normal horses (n=6) and horses with lab-induced RAO (n=6) under stable conditions.
- Oxygen was given using one or two cannulae placed through the nostrils into the nasopharynx, reaching to the level of each eye’s medial canthus.
- Researchers measured inspired oxygen, carbon dioxide concentration, and arterial blood gas tensions before treatment and at incremental oxygen delivery rates of 5, 10, 15, 20, and 30 l/min.
Key Findings
- The horses generally tolerated the nasal cannulae and most of the oxygen flow rates well, except for the highest rate of 30 l/min, which occasionally caused coughing or gagging.
- The Fractional inspired oxygen concentration (F(IO2) escalated with higher flow rates. However, it was consistently lower in horses with RAO compared to the control group.
- All flow rates significantly elevated the Arterial oxygen tension (PaO2), although it consistently remained lower in horses with RAO. At 30 l/min, PaO2 rose to 319 ± 31 mmHg in control horses and 264 ± 69 mmHg in those with RAO.
- There was a notable arterial to end-tidal gradient for CO2 in horses with RAO, signifying increased alveolar deadspace ventilation in these animals.
Conclusions
- Nasal cannulae effectively increase F(IO2) and PaO2 levels in horses with moderate to severe RAO.
- Oxygen flow rates up to 20 l/min are well-tolerated, while those at 30 l/min may cause occasional coughing or gagging.
- As a rule, oxygen flow rates of 10-20 l/min should be efficient. If higher rates (20-30 l/min) are needed, two cannulae should be used.
- Overall, oxygen therapy administered intranasally significantly boosts arterial oxygen levels in horses afflicted with respiratory diseases.
Cite This Article
APA
Wilson DV, Schott HC, Robinson NE, Berney CE, Eberhart SW.
(2006).
Response to nasopharyngeal oxygen administration in horses with lung disease.
Equine Vet J, 38(3), 219-223.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516406776866345 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan 48824-1314, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Blood Gas Analysis / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Kinetics
- Lung Diseases, Obstructive / therapy
- Lung Diseases, Obstructive / veterinary
- Male
- Oxygen Consumption
- Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / methods
- Oxygen Inhalation Therapy / veterinary
- Partial Pressure
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Porhomayon J, El-Solh AA, Pourafkari L, Jaoude P, Nader ND. Applications of Nasal High-Flow Oxygen Therapy in Critically ill Adult Patients. Lung 2016 Oct;194(5):705-14.
- Gardoni N, Björck S, Morelli J, Evans AL, Barros DSB, Wiklund R, Græsli AR, Thiel A, Arnemo JM, Lian M. Arterial oxygenation and acid-base status before and during oxygen supplementation in captive European bison (Bison bonasus) immobilized with etorphine-acepromazine-xylazine. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1125919.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
