The effect of inotropic and/or vasopressor support on postoperative survival following equine colic surgery

To determine the effects of dobutamine and phenylephrine on intra- and postoperative survival in horses undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.

Retrospective case analysis.

A total of 637 client-owned horses undergoing colic surgery.

Clinical details of horses admitted for colic surgery were recorded on a computer database. Information collected included history, clinical variables observed before surgery, anaesthesia and surgical details, and postoperative survival and morbidity rates. Details of specific importance for this study were those recorded during anaesthesia, in particular the duration of dobutamine and phenylephrine administration, separately and combined, and total anaesthesia time. Two outcomes were considered: 1) intra-operative death, i.e. death between time of pre-anaesthetic medication and recovery from anaesthesia (defined as horse walking from recovery box); and 2) all deaths, i.e. death at any time after induction of anaesthesia. The definition of 'death' included euthanasia. Univariable and multivariable statistical analyses were performed to evaluate the associations between dobutamine and/or phenylephrine use and these two outcomes.

Results from univariable analyses suggested that dobutamine administration was not significantly associated with increased intra- or postoperative mortality. Phenylephrine administration showed univariable association with intra- and postoperative death. However, in multivariable models adjusted for the effects of heart rate and packed cell volume at admission, the phenylephrine effect was not significantly associated with intra-operative, or other types of death.

This study provides no evidence to suggest that dobutamine or phenylephrine administration is associated with altered survival rates during or after colic surgery.

Our study supports previous work, suggesting that pre-existing cardiovascular status is an important prognostic determinant in equine colic cases. It provides no evidence that dobutamine or phenylephrine administration is associated with survival.