Risk Factors of Anesthesia-Related Mortality and Morbidity in One Equine Hospital: A Retrospective Study on 1,161 Cases Undergoing Elective or Emergency Surgeries.
Authors: Laurenza Chiara, Ansart Lèa, Portier Karine
Journal: Frontiers in veterinary science
Summary
This retrospective analysis of 1,161 horses undergoing general anaesthesia at a university teaching hospital over five years established a global anaesthesia-related mortality rate of 1.4%, though non-colic cases fared considerably better at 0.96%. Researchers extracted detailed records on patient variables, anaesthetic protocols, recovery parameters and immediate complications, then used ordinal logistic regression to identify factors independently associated with adverse outcomes. Neuromuscular complications dominated the 17.5% overall morbidity rate (occurring in 46.9% of cases), followed by respiratory (22.6%), systemic (15.8%) and cardiovascular (13.6%) issues—notably, 92% of these complications emerged during recovery rather than during surgery itself. Multiple risk factors substantially elevated mortality and complication risk, including increased bodyweight, greater age, high ASA score, prolonged anaesthetic duration, poor induction quality, lateral positioning, orthopedic procedures and intraoperative hypotension, whilst surgeon experience appeared protective. For practitioners, these findings underscore the critical importance of meticulous recovery management, careful patient selection based on age and ASA status, and vigilance against hypotension and positioning complications, particularly in heavier or older horses, though the data reassuringly suggest that colic surgery itself carries no additional anaesthetic risk beyond the patient factors involved.
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Practical Takeaways
- •Recovery is the highest-risk period for anesthetic complications—ensure experienced personnel and appropriate facilities are dedicated to this phase
- •Older, heavier horses with high ASA scores require extra vigilance; consider extended monitoring and preventive measures during recovery
- •Surgeon experience significantly influences complication rates; consider case load when scheduling elective procedures for high-risk patients
Key Findings
- •Overall anesthesia-related mortality was 1.4%, decreasing to 0.96% for non-colic cases
- •Complication rate was 17.5%, with 92% of complications occurring during recovery phase
- •Neuromuscular complications were most common (46.9%), followed by respiratory (22.6%) and systemic (15.8%) complications
- •Major risk factors for mortality and complications included high weight, increasing age, high ASA score, long anesthetic duration, poor induction quality, lateral recumbency, orthopedic surgery, and hypotension