Use of sevoflurane for anesthetic management of horses during thoracotomy.

The research article evaluates the use of sevoflurane, an inhalation anesthetic, during thoracotomy surgery in horses. The researchers subjected 18 horses to the procedure and monitored their reaction to the anesthetic and overall survival.

Methods

The researchers used two distinct methods for the study:

• The first involved four horses used to develop the surgical techniques, which were subsequently euthanized at the end of the procedure.
• The remaining 14 horses were chosen due to previous incidents of lung bleeding during strenuous activity. These were not euthanized.

Anesthetic Administration

The anesthetic process was performed in specific steps:

• Xylazine and ketamine were initially administered to induce general anesthesia.
• Anesthesia was maintained through sevoflurane in oxygen delivered through a circle anesthetic breathing circuit.
• Ventilation was controlled to keep PaCO2 at approximately 45 mm Hg.
• Neuromuscular blocking drugs such as succinylcholine or atracurium were administered to cease spontaneous breathing efforts and facilitate the surgery.
• Cardiovascular performance was continuously monitored and supported when required.

Results

Results of the research had several key aspects:

• Two out of the 14 horses that were not euthanized died due to ventricular fibrillation.
• The average duration of anesthesia was 304.9 minutes for surviving horses and 216.7 minutes for those that were euthanized or died.

Conclusions

From the research, several conclusions were made:

• Sevoflurane provided good control of anesthetic depth during all stages: induction, maintenance, and recovery.
• Application of sevoflurane along with neuromuscular blocking drugs allowed for stable and controllable anesthetic management of horses during thoracotomy and cardiac manipulation.

The findings imply that sevoflurane can be effectively used as an inhalation anesthetic during thoracotomy surgery in horses. It is especially helpful when there is a need for cardiovascular control and manipulation. However, these results should be interpreted with caution due to the small sample size and the specialized nature of the procedure.