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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Risk factors associated with hypoxaemia in horses undergoing...
Equine veterinary journal2021; 54(6); 1055-1063; doi: 10.1111/evj.13541

Risk factors associated with hypoxaemia in horses undergoing general anaesthesia: A retrospective study.

Abstract: Hypoxaemia is a common concern during equine general anaesthesia. The prevalence and predictors of hypoxaemia in horses undergoing elective anaesthesia in particular are poorly documented. Objective: To determine and compare the prevalence of hypoxaemia (defined as PaO2  ≤ 80 mm Hg, on the lowest value recorded) in horses undergoing anaesthesia for exploratory laparotomy and elective procedures, and to identify risk factors in both subpopulations. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: Data were collected from 774 records of 708 horses undergoing general anaesthesia between April 2017 and August 2020. Potential predictors of hypoxaemia in horses undergoing anaesthesia for exploratory laparotomy or elective procedures were investigated separately by univariable penalised maximum likelihood logistic regression, followed by multivariable analysis. The lowest recorded PaO2 was used as a single data point for the determination of hypoxaemia and arterial oxygen partial pressure to fractional inspired oxygen ratio analysis. Results: Hypoxaemia was recorded in 23% horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy compared with 3.8% horses undergoing elective anaesthesia (P < .001). Multivariable analysis showed that weight above 550 kg, large intestinal lesions, and peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) above 30 cmH2 O were significantly associated with hypoxaemia in horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy. Soft tissue procedures and PIP >30 cmH2 O were significantly associated with hypoxaemia during elective anaesthesia. Conclusions: This study only considered the minimum PaO2 recorded during anaesthesia. Duration and treatment of hypoxaemia were not considered. Conclusions: Based on the lowest PaO2 value during anaesthesia, in our population, horses undergoing anaesthesia for exploratory laparotomy were over six times more likely to become hypoxaemic than horses undergoing elective procedures. Bodyweight, type of procedure, and high PIP were predictors of hypoxaemia.
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Publication Date: 2021-12-02 PubMed ID: 34796547DOI: 10.1111/evj.13541Google 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 study investigates the prevalence and risk factors of hypoxaemia in horses during general anesthesia, particularly noting a higher risk during exploratory laparotomy procedures as compared to elective procedures.

Study Objective

  • The research aims to understand and compare the prevalence of hypoxaemia in horses undergoing anesthesia for exploratory laparotomy and elective procedures.
  • It also aims to identify risk factors that contribute to hypoxaemia in both groups.

Methodology

  • Data were collected retrospectively from the records of 708 horses, which underwent general anesthesia from April 2017 to August 2020.
  • Separate statistical analyses were run for elective procedures and laparotomy procedures to identify potential predictors of hypoxaemia in each group.
  • The criterion for hypoxaemia was defined as PaO ≤ 80mm Hg, based on the lowest value recorded.

Results

  • Among the horses that underwent exploratory laparotomy, 23% experienced hypoxaemia, compared with only 3.8% of horses undergoing elective procedures.
  • In exploratory laparotomy procedures, weight above 550 kg, large intestinal lesions, and peak inspiratory pressure (PIP) above 30 cmH O were associated with a higher likelihood of hypoxaemia.
  • For elective procedures, soft tissue procedures and PIP >30 cmH O were significantly associated with hypoxaemia occurrence.

Conclusions

  • This study considered only the minimum recorded PaO during anesthesia, without considering the duration of hypoxaemia or its treatment.
  • The findings suggest horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy procedures were over six times as likely to experience hypoxaemia as compared to horses undergoing elective procedures.
  • Body weight, type of procedure, and high PIP are significant predictors of hypoxaemia.

Cite This Article

APA
Hovda T, Love L, Chiavaccini L. (2021). Risk factors associated with hypoxaemia in horses undergoing general anaesthesia: A retrospective study. Equine Vet J, 54(6), 1055-1063. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13541

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 54
Issue: 6
Pages: 1055-1063

Researcher Affiliations

Hovda, Tyne
  • Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Love, Lydia
  • Department of Molecular Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA.
Chiavaccini, Ludovica
  • Department of Comparative, Diagnostic, and Population Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Anesthesia, General / adverse effects
  • Anesthesia, General / veterinary
  • Animals
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Hypoxia / veterinary
  • Oxygen
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors

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Citations

This article has been cited 4 times.
  1. Román Durá B, Dunham O, Grulke S, Salciccia A, Dupont J, Sandersen C. A Retrospective Study on Pre- and Intraoperative Predictors on the Recovery Quality of Horses After General Anesthesia. Vet Sci 2025 Mar 11;12(3).
    doi: 10.3390/vetsci12030262pubmed: 40266986google scholar: lookup
  2. Milner PI, Bardell D. Can Arterial Blood Gas, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Analysis at Admission be Used to Predict Survival to Hospital Discharge for Different Causes of Colic?. Vet Med Sci 2025 Mar;11(2):e70210.
    doi: 10.1002/vms3.70210pubmed: 39912702google scholar: lookup
  3. Brumund L, Wittenberg-Voges L, Rohn K, Kästner SBR. Risk assessment in equine anesthesia: a first evaluation of the usability, utility and predictivity of the two-part CHARIOT. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1384525.
    doi: 10.3389/fvets.2024.1384525pubmed: 38846780google scholar: lookup
  4. Viterbo L, Hughes J, Milner PI, Bardell D. Arterial Blood Gas, Electrolyte and Acid-Base Values as Diagnostic and Prognostic Indicators in Equine Colic. Animals (Basel) 2023 Oct 17;13(20).
    doi: 10.3390/ani13203241pubmed: 37893965google scholar: lookup
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