References
Anaesthesia for colic surgery in horses
Abstract
The anaesthetic and analgesic management of horses undergoing colic surgery can be complex and challenging. This review discusses the main points for consideration from the preoperative preparation through to the recovery phase. It also provides a brief overview of monitoring aspects and some of the common intra-operative complications which may be experienced.
Horses presenting for emergency exploratory laparotomy under general anaesthesia represent a unique anaesthetic challenge. The pathophysiological changes associated with colic can affect multiple body systems and severely compromise the cardiorespiratory and metabolic stability of a patient. Because the gastrointestinal lesion causing the colic signs can vary in location, duration and severity, the impact on the cardiorespiratory stability in the horse presenting with behavioural signs of colic can also be influenced. Horses with colic caused by a strangulating obstruction, for example where tissue perfusion is severely compromised, represent a high anaesthetic risk. Factors such as hypovolaemia, acid–base and electrolyte disturbances, endotoxaemia, metabolic acidosis and abdominal distension contribute to serious cardiorespiratory compromise (Robertson and Scicluna, 2009). The presence of a distended large intestine can also result in cardiorespiratory compromise as a result of pressure on the diaphragm and reduced venous return (Robertson and Scicluna, 2009).
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