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 language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 269-279 |
Journal | Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia |
Volume | 42 |
Issue number | 3 |
Early online date | 21 Jul 2014 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 1 May 2015 |
Keywords / Materials (for Non-textual outputs)
- Anaesthesia recovery period
- Electrocardiography
- Heart rate variability
- Horses
- T-wave
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Karen Blissitt
- Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies - Personal Chair of Equine Cardiology and Anaesthesia
Person: Academic: Research Active (Research Assistant)