Effect of Aerosolised Salbutamol Administration on Arterial Potassium Concentration in Anaesthetised Horses.
Authors: Loomes Kate
Journal: Journal of equine veterinary science
Summary
Aerosolised salbutamol is commonly used to manage hypoxaemia during equine anaesthesia, but clinical concerns have emerged regarding its association with hypokalaemia in colic cases. Loomes' retrospective analysis examined arterial potassium concentrations in 60 healthy horses undergoing elective surgery, comparing 22 animals that received aerosolised salbutamol (2 µg kg⁻¹) with 38 that did not, with electrolyte measurements taken before and after treatment. Whilst both groups experienced expected potassium declines during anaesthesia, those receiving salbutamol showed significantly greater reductions (12.3% versus 6.9%; P=0.017), with the drug itself identified as a significant independent factor in this hypokalaemic effect. For practitioners managing anaesthetised horses—particularly those experiencing hypoxaemia requiring bronchodilator therapy—these findings underscore the importance of serial arterial potassium monitoring and consideration of intra-operative supplementation protocols to mitigate the compounded electrolyte shifts that salbutamol administration may precipitate.
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Practical Takeaways
- •When using aerosolized salbutamol to treat intraoperative hypoxemia in horses, be alert to the risk of significant potassium depletion and consider monitoring arterial electrolytes during anesthesia
- •Even without salbutamol administration, potassium and calcium concentrations decline during equine anesthesia, so baseline electrolyte measurement is valuable for comparison
- •Consider electrolyte supplementation protocols when salbutamol has been administered intraoperatively to prevent complications from hypokalemia in the immediate post-operative period
Key Findings
- •Aerosolized salbutamol administration caused a significantly greater reduction in arterial potassium concentration (12.3%) compared to no salbutamol (6.9%) in anaesthetized horses (P=0.017)
- •Both groups showed significant reductions in potassium and calcium between baseline and second electrolyte measurement (P<0.001)
- •Salbutamol administration was significantly associated with potassium reduction (P=0.04)
- •Potassium monitoring is important in anaesthetized horses, particularly following aerosolized salbutamol use for hypoxemia treatment