FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 10000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Equine veterinary journal2024; doi: 10.1111/evj.14428

Retrospective evaluation of the impact of atropine administration on incidence of post-operative colic in healthy, isoflurane-anaesthetised horses.

Abstract: In anaesthetised horses, bradycardia secondary to high vagal tone can reduce cardiac output and blood pressure. The use of anticholinergics in horses is limited due to concerns about ileus and abdominal discomfort. This retrospective study sought to determine the prevalence of post-operative abdominal discomfort in healthy horses that received atropine under isoflurane anaesthesia. Methods: A retrospective evaluation of 222 general anaesthesia events between January 2019 and December 2019 was undertaken. Methods: One hundred and eleven horses that received atropine were identified, and 111 case match controls that did not receive atropine were also selected. Information gathered from the medical records included signalment, anaesthetic drugs, surgical procedures, duration of anaesthesia and surgery, dobutamine and atropine administration, and the occurrence of abdominal discomfort for 24 h after anaesthesia. After initial data analysis, a second cohort of records was assessed separately. The horses in this group were castrated under general anaesthesia (with or without atropine; n = 68). Logistic regression models and Fisher's exact tests were used to look for factors contributing to abdominal discomfort post-anaesthesia. The significance level was set to 5% (p < 0.05). Results: Atropine administration was not associated with the development of post-anaesthetic abdominal discomfort (OR = 2.121, 95% CI [0.767, 5.869]; p = 0.2). Overall, 18/222 (8.1%) incidences of abdominal discomfort were identified. All incidents occurred in colts undergoing castration. In a separate analysis of only horses anaesthetised for castration, atropine was associated with developing abdominal discomfort (OR = 3.143, 95% CI [1.082, 9.132]; p = 0.04). Conclusions: Atropine was not associated with post-operative abdominal discomfort except in colts undergoing castration. All episodes of discomfort were mild and resolved with minimal intervention. The potential impact of insufficient analgesia in horses undergoing castration is a confounding factor and requires prospective investigation. Conclusions: Overall, atropine at a dose of 0.006 mg/kg IV appears to be a safe method to treat bradycardia in otherwise healthy horses anaesthetised for orthopaedic and upper airway procedures. Further work is required to determine if atropine is safe for colts undergoing castration.
© 2024 The Author(s). Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2024-10-29 PubMed ID: 39470146DOI: 10.1111/evj.14428Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • 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 study explores the effect of atropine on incidences of post-operative colic in healthy horses anesthetized with isoflurane, finding that it does not generally cause abdominal discomfort except in colts following castration.

Study Objective and Methodology

  • The research aims to assess the possibility of post-operative abdominal discomfort in healthy horses that were administered atropine under isoflurane anaesthesia. This consequential discomfort is a concern as it could lead to complications like ileus, obstructed bowel movements.
  • A retrospective evaluation of 222 general anaesthesia instances from January to December 2019 was conducted.
  • The study utilized two groups: 111 horses that received atropine and 111 control cases that did not.
  • The data extracted from medical records included details about the horses’ characteristics, anaesthetic drugs used, surgical procedures performed, duration of anaesthesia, the administration of dobutamine and atropine, and instances of abdominal discomfort within 24 hours after anaesthesia.
  • A second group solely comprising horses that underwent castration under general anaesthesia was separately analysed.
  • Statistical tools like logistic regression models and Fisher’s exact tests were employed to identify factors causing post-anaesthesia abdominal discomfort.

Results

  • The administration of atropine did not contribute to post-anaesthetic abdominal discomfort (with an odds ratio of 2.121 and a p-value of 0.2).
  • A total of 18 incidences constituting 8.1% of the population were identified as having abdominal discomfort after anaesthesia. Each of these cases involved colts undergoing castration.
  • A separate analysis of the group consisting only of horses anaesthetised for castration suggested that the use of atropine could lead to abdominal discomfort (with an odds ratio of 3.143 and the significance level of 0.04).

Conclusions

  • Atropine’s administration wasn’t generally related to post-operative abdominal discomfort, except in colts following castration. All episodes of discomfort were temporary and could be managed with minimal intervention.
  • The study reveals possible deficiencies in pain management for horses undergoing castration, offering an area for future investigations.
  • At a dose of 0.006 mg/kg IV, atropine appears to safely treat bradycardia in healthy horses anaesthetised, specifically for orthopaedic and upper airway procedures.
  • Additional research is needed to confirm atropine’s safety for use in colts undergoing castration.

Cite This Article

APA
Varner KM, Curtiss AL, Hogan PM, Love K, Dodam JR. (2024). Retrospective evaluation of the impact of atropine administration on incidence of post-operative colic in healthy, isoflurane-anaesthetised horses. Equine Vet J. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.14428

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English

Researcher Affiliations

Varner, Kelley M
  • Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, North Carolina State University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Curtiss, Alexandra L
  • Hogan Equine LLC, Cream Ridge, New Jersey, USA.
Hogan, Patricia M
  • Hogan Equine LLC, Cream Ridge, New Jersey, USA.
Love, Kim
  • K.R. Love Quantitative Consulting and Collaboration, Athens, Georgia, USA.
Dodam, John R
  • Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, USA.

References

This article includes 19 references
  1. Johnston GM, Eastment JK, Wood J, Taylor PM. The confidential inquiry into perioperative equine fatalities (CEPEF): mortality results of Phases 1 and 2.. Vet Anaesth Analg 2002;29(4):159–170.
  2. Muir WW, Hubbell JAE. Chapter 22: Anesthetic‐associated complications. In: Muri WW, Hubbell JAE, editors. Equine anesthesia: monitoring and emergency therapy. 2nd ed. St. Louis, MO: Saunders Elsevier; 2009. p. 397–417.
  3. Vatner SF. Effects of anesthesia on cardiovascular control mechanisms.. Environ Health Perspect 1978;26:193–206.
  4. Adams SB, Lamar CH, Masty J. Motility of the distal portion of the jejunum and pelvic flexure in ponies: effects of six drugs.. Am J Vet Res 1984;45(4):795–799.
  5. Ducharme NG, Fubini SL. Gastrointestinal complications associated with the use of atropine in horses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1983;182(3):229–231.
  6. Weil AB, Keegan RD, Greene SA. Effect of low‐dose atropine administration on dobutamine dose requirement in horses anesthetized with detomidine and halothane.. Am J Vet Res 1997;58(12):1436–1439.
  7. Dyson DH, Pascoe PJ, McDonell WN. Effects of intravenously administered glycopyrrolate in anesthetized horses.. Can Vet J 1999;40(1):29–32.
  8. Portier K, Ida KK. The ASA physical status classification: what is the evidence for recommending its use in veterinary anesthesia? A systematic review.. Front Vet Sci 2018;31(5):204.
  9. Anderson MS, Clark L, Dyson SJ, Newton JR. Risk factors for colic in horses after general anesthesia for MRI or non‐abdominal surgery: absence of evidence of effect from perianaesthetic morphine.. Equine Vet J 2006;38:368–374.
  10. Bailey PA, Hague BA, Davis M, Major MD, Zubrod CJ, Brakenhoff JE. Incidence of post‐anesthetic colic in non‐fasted adult equine patients.. Can Vet J 2016;57(12):1263–1266.
  11. Jargo RC, Corletto F, Wright IM. Perianesthetic complications in an equine referral hospital: risk factors for anesthetic colic.. Equine Vet J 2015;47:635–640.
  12. Little D, Redding WR, Blikslager AT. Risk factors for reduced postoperative fecal output in horses: 37 cases (1997‐1998).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2001;218:414–420.
  13. Nelson BB, Loran EE, Hassel DM. Risk factors associated with gastrointestinal dysfunction in horses undergoing elective procedures under general anesthesia.. Equine Vet J 2012;45:8–14.
  14. Senior JM, Pinchbeck GL, Dugdale AGA, Clegg PD. Retrospective study of the risk factors and incidence of colic in horses after orthopaedic surgery.. Vet Rec 2004;153:321–325.
  15. Senior JM, Pinchbeck GL, Allister R, Dugdale AH, Clark L, Clutton RE. Post anaesthetic colic in horses: a preventable complication?. Equine Vet J 2006;38(5):479–484.
  16. Robert MP, Chapuis RJJ, de Fourmestraux C, Geffroy OJ. Complications and risk factors of castration with primary wound closure: retrospective study in 159 horses.. Can Vet J 2017;58(5):466–471.
  17. Bowen IM, Redpath A, Dugdale A, Burford JH, Lloyd D, Watson T. BEVA primary care clinical guidelines: Analgesia.. Equine Vet J 2019;52:13–27.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.13198google scholar: lookup
  18. Love EJ, Taylor PM, Clark C, Whay HR, Murrell J. Analgesic effect of butorphanol in ponies following castration.. Equine Vet J 2009;41(6):552–556.
    doi: 10.2746/042516409x391024google scholar: lookup
  19. Taylor PM, Hoare HR, de Vries A, Love EJ, Coumbe KM, White KL. A multicentre, prospective, randomised, blinded clinical trial to compare some perioperative effects of buprenorphine or butorphanol premedication before equine elective general anaesthesia and surgery.. Equine Vet J 2016;48(4):442–450.
    doi: 10.1111/evj.12442google scholar: lookup

Citations

This article has been cited 0 times.
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 100,127 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.