Electrocardiographic indicators of excitability in horses for predicting recovery quality after general anaesthesia

Thomas Tzelos, Karen J. Blissitt*, R. Eddie Clutton

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Objective: To determine whether preoperative electrocardiographic measurements linked to sympathetic nervous activity could be used to predict recovery quality after general anaesthesia in horses. Study design: Prospective, clinical study. Animals: Eighteen adult client-owned horses. Methods: The electrocardiogram (ECG) was recorded presurgery in horses under three standard conditions: stabled unattended; with a groom whilst being led along a standard course; alone in the induction box. After surgery, each animal's recovery quality was scored by eight experienced anaesthetists or technicians using Donaldson's scoring system (2000). The digitized ECG recordings were analyzed for T-wave morphology, mean heart rate (HR), HR variability (HRV) and HRV derivatives including mean R-R interval, standard deviation of normal intervals (SDNN) and the root mean square of successive intervals (RMSSD), low (LF) and high frequency (HF) activity and the LF/HF ratio in both fast Fourier transformed and autoregressive spectra. Correlations between ECG variables and recovery score were examined using Spearman's rank correlation. Results: There was no significant correlation between preanaesthetic ECG measurements and recovery quality. Conclusions: Predictions of recovery quality after general anaesthesia in horses cannot be based on preanaesthetic ECG variables. Clinical relevance: Measures other than those based on the ECG should be investigated as predictors of recovery quality.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)269-279
JournalVeterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
Volume42
Issue number3
Early online date21 Jul 2014
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 May 2015

Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)

  • Anaesthesia recovery period
  • Electrocardiography
  • Heart rate variability
  • Horses
  • T-wave

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Electrocardiographic indicators of excitability in horses for predicting recovery quality after general anaesthesia'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this