Temporal changes in core body temperature in anesthetized adult horses.
Abstract: To examine temporal patterns of core body temperatures in adult horses during general anesthesia and to determine the efficacy of forced-air warming blankets in attenuating decreases in core body temperatures. Methods: 5 clinically normal adult horses. Methods: Horses were assigned to each of 2 trials, warmer and no-warmer, in a randomized crossover design. Horses were instrumented with a thermistor-tipped pulmonary arterial catheter to measure core body temperature. Induction and maintenance of and recovery from general anesthesia were performed in an air-conditioned surgical suite where room temperature and relative humidity were maintained at approximately 21 C and 40%, respectively. Core body temperature measurements were recorded every 5 minutes during 2.5 hours of anesthesia and during recovery until horses could stand. Data were analyzed, using ANOVA for repeated measures. Results: Without warming, mean core body temperature decreased steadily (0.37+/-0.18 C/h). Forced-air warming significantly decreased that rate to 0.19+/-0.09 C/h. In both trials, there was an additional, rapid, significant decrease in core body temperature when horses were moved to the recovery area, which was apparently the result of conductive heat loss to the cold floor. Recovery time and time required for core body temperature to return to baseline were unaffected by forced-air warming during anesthesia and recovery. Conclusions: Core body temperature decreases steadily in adult horses anesthetized in a cool, dry environment. Forced-air warming devices can attenuate this decrease. Additional body heat can be lost rapidly when anesthetized horses are positioned on cold surfaces during recovery.
Publication Date: 1999-05-18 PubMed ID: 10328424
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- Clinical Trial
- Journal Article
- Randomized Controlled Trial
Summary
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The research study examines the fluctuations in the core body temperature of adult horses during general anesthesia and evaluates the effectiveness of forced-air warming blankets in minimizing the drop in core body temperatures.
Research Methodology
- The sample for the study consisted of five clinically normal adult horses.
- In a randomized crossover experiment design, the horses were assigned to two trials, one with the forced-air warmer and one without the warmer.
- For accurate measurement of the core body temperature, the horses were equipped with a thermistor-tipped pulmonary arterial catheter.
- All stages of the anesthesia including induction, maintenance, and recovery took place in an air-conditioned surgical suite with an approximate temperature and relative humidity of 21ºC and 40% respectively.
- Every five minutes, core body temperature measurements were recorded during 2.5 hours of anesthesia and continued during recovery until the horses could stand.
- Data was statistically analyzed using an ANOVA test for repeated measures.
Results
- The study found that without warming provisions, the mean core body temperature of the horses steadily dropped at a rate of 0.37+/-0.18 C/h.
- The use of forced-air warming significantly reduced this rate to 0.19+/-0.09 C/h.
- Both trials witnessed an abrupt, significant decrease in core body temperature when the horses were relocated to the recovery area. It was concluded that the cold floor led to conductive heat loss.
- The time taken for recovery and for the core body temperature to return to baseline remained unaffected by the use of the forced-air warming during anesthesia and recovery.
Conclusion
- The study concluded that during anesthesia in a cool and dry environment, the core body temperature in adult horses consistently decreases.
- The use of forced-air warming devices can help slow down this decrease.
- It was also found that moving anesthetized horses to cold surfaces during recovery could result in rapid heat loss.
Cite This Article
APA
Tomasic M.
(1999).
Temporal changes in core body temperature in anesthetized adult horses.
Am J Vet Res, 60(5), 556-562.
Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square 19348-1692, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Analysis of Variance
- Anesthesia, General / veterinary
- Animals
- Body Temperature
- Cross-Over Studies
- Female
- Horses / physiology
- Hypothermia / prevention & control
- Hypothermia / veterinary
- Male
- Shivering
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Gozalo-Marcilla M, Ringer SK. Recovery after General Anaesthesia in Adult Horses: A Structured Summary of the Literature. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 14;11(6).
- Dupont J, Serteyn D, Sandersen C. Prolonged Recovery From General Anesthesia Possibly Related to Persistent Hypoxemia in a Draft Horse. Front Vet Sci 2018;5:235.
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