Effects of hypoxia on endocrine and metabolic responses to anaesthesia in ponies

Some metabolic and endocrine effects of hypoxaemia were studied during halothane anaesthesia in six ponies. Each was anaesthetised twice; on one occasion a 20-minute period of hypoxaemia (arterial oxygen tension between 4.4 and 5.8 [mean 5.3] kPa) was imposed during 120 minutes of anaesthesia. On the second occasion arterial oxygen tension was maintained above 17 kPa throughout. Routine cardiovascular monitoring was performed and blood samples were taken to measure haematocrit, cortisol, insulin, glucose and lactate. Anaesthesia was associated with hypotension in both groups (mean ABP < 70 mmHg) but pulse rate changed little from control. Hypercapnia (PaCO2 > 7.0 kPa) developed in the normoxic group and acidosis was more severe than in the hypoxic group. Haematocrit changed little but was higher in the hypoxic group after the hypoxic period (0.39[0.06] vs 0.32[0.06] litre litre(-1)). Plasma cortisol increased significantly during anaesthesia in both groups (maximum values: hypoxic group 418[96], normoxic group 492[102] nmol litre(-1)) and there was no significant difference between them. Glucose concentration increased in the hypoxic group and was significantly higher than in the normoxic group during the hypoxic period (8.8[1.5] vs 6.4[1.5] mmol litre(-1)). Insulin decreased in both groups but this was significant only in the normoxic group (from 34[19] to a nadir of 12[9] iu ml(-1)) and the groups were not significantly different. Lacticacidaemia developed in both groups but was more severe in the hypoxic group (maximum values 2.3[0.6] and 1.3[0.5] mmol litre(-1)). It was concluded that 20 minutes of hypoxia during halothane anaesthesia in ponies did not markedly alter the stress response already induced by anaesthesia.