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Home / Equine Research Bank / Vet Rec / Sevoflurane or isoflurane anaesthesia? A prospective, random...
The Veterinary record2021; 189(3); e507; doi: 10.1002/vetr.507

Sevoflurane or isoflurane anaesthesia? A prospective, randomised blinded clinical trial in horses undergoing elective surgery.

Abstract: Isoflurane is the only volatile anaesthetic agent licensed for equine use in the United Kingdom, but sevoflurane is also commonly used. The two agents have rarely been compared for use in clinical elective surgery. Methods: This single centre, prospective, randomised, blinded clinical investigation recruited 101 healthy client owned horses undergoing elective surgery. Anaesthesia was standardised and horses randomly assigned to receive isoflurane (I) or sevoflurane (S) for maintenance of anaesthesia in 100% oxygen. Horses were ventilated to normocapnia and received intravenous fluid therapy and haemodynamic support with dobutamine to maintain mean arterial blood pressure above 60 mm Hg. Recovery was timed and video-recorded to allow offline evaluation by two experienced clinicians unaware of the volatile agent used. No post-anaesthetic sedation was administered. Results: There was no significant difference between groups in terms of haemodynamic support required during anaesthesia nor in quality or duration of recovery. Inotropic support to maintain MAP above 60 mm Hg was required by 67 of 101 (67%) of horses. Five horses in the I group required additional ketamine or thiopentone to improve the plane of anaesthesia. Conclusions: Haemodynamic support needed during anaesthesia as well as the duration and quality of recovery were similar with isoflurane and sevoflurane.
© 2021 The Authors. Veterinary Record published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Veterinary Association.
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Publication Date: 2021-05-28 PubMed ID: 34047371DOI: 10.1002/vetr.507Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Veterinary

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 is about a comparative exploration of two volatile anaesthetic agents, sevoflurane and isoflurane, on horses undergoing elective surgery. The conclusion reveals that there were no significant differences in the requirements for haemodynamic support during anaesthesia or in the duration and quality of horses’ recovery using either agent.

Research Methodology

  • The study was a single-centre, prospective, randomised, and blinded clinical trial carried out on 101 healthy horses owned by clients, all of which were subjected to elective surgery.
  • The anaesthesia process was standardized, with the horses being randomly assigned to receive either isoflurane (I) or sevoflurane (S) for maintenance of anaesthesia using 100% oxygen.
  • As part of the anaesthetic procedure, all the horses were ventilated to achieve normocapnia (normal carbon dioxide levels in the blood), received intravenous fluid therapy, and were given haemodynamic support with dobutamine to keep their mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) above 60 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury).
  • The recovery process of the horses were timed and recorded on video. Two experienced clinicians, who were unaware of the specific anaesthetic agent used, later evaluated those recordings.
  • The study did not administer any post-anaesthetic sedation.

Research Findings

  • An analysis of the data collected found no significant differentiation between groups based on the amount of haemodynamic support required during anaesthesia or in the quality or duration of the recovery period.
  • During the course of the study, 67 out of the 101 horses, equating to 67%, required inotropic support (assistance to change the force of heart contractions) to maintain their MAP above 60 mm Hg.
  • In the isoflurane group, five horses needed an additional dose of either ketamine or thiopentone to improve the plane of anaesthesia, indicating a level of inadequacy in the depth of their anaesthesia.

Conclusion

From this study, it can be derived that the haemodynamic support needed during anaesthesia, the duration of the recovery period, and the quality of recovery were similar whether the anaesthetic used was isoflurane or sevoflurane. This equivalence of effectiveness means that the choice between the two anaesthetics can be based on factors outside of their medical efficiency.

Cite This Article

APA
White KL, Hird JFR, Taylor PM. (2021). Sevoflurane or isoflurane anaesthesia? A prospective, randomised blinded clinical trial in horses undergoing elective surgery. Vet Rec, 189(3), e507. https://doi.org/10.1002/vetr.507

Publication

The Veterinary record
ISSN: 2042-7670
NlmUniqueID: 0031164
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 189
Issue: 3
Pages: e507

Researcher Affiliations

White, Kate L
  • School of Veterinary Medicine and Science, University of Nottingham, Leicestershire, UK.
Hird, John F R
  • Shelf Equine Hospital, Lower Giles Hill Farm, Halifax, West Yorkshire, UK.
Taylor, Polly M
  • Taylor Monroe, Little Downham, Ely, Cambridgeshire, UK.

MeSH Terms

  • Anesthesia / methods
  • Anesthesia / veterinary
  • Anesthesia Recovery Period
  • Anesthetics, Inhalation / therapeutic use
  • Animals
  • Elective Surgical Procedures / veterinary
  • Female
  • Horses / surgery
  • Isoflurane / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Prospective Studies
  • Sevoflurane / therapeutic use
  • Treatment Outcome
  • United Kingdom

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