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Balanced anesthesia and constant-rate infusions in horses
1Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. valverde@uoguelph.ca
The Veterinary Clinics of North America. Equine Practice
|March 19, 2013
Summary
Balanced anesthesia in horses combines volatile and injectable drugs for maintenance. This review details drug combinations and provides pharmacokinetic-based dose recommendations for equine anesthesia.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Anesthesiology
- Equine Pharmacology
Background:
- Balanced anesthesia is a common technique in horses, combining volatile and injectable anesthetics.
- Injectable agents include α2-agonists, lidocaine, ketamine, opioids, benzodiazepines, and guaifenesin.
- Constant-rate infusions (CRIs) are preferred for injectable anesthetics to achieve steady-state concentrations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review common injectable drug combinations used in balanced equine anesthesia.
- To provide calculated, pharmacokinetically-guided dose recommendations for these drugs.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of balanced anesthetic techniques in horses.
- Analysis of pharmacokinetic data for commonly used injectable anesthetics.
- Calculation of recommended doses for CRI administration.
Main Results:
- Summary of various injectable drug combinations employed in equine anesthesia.
- Presentation of calculated dose recommendations based on drug pharmacokinetics.
- Emphasis on achieving predictable pharmacodynamic effects through CRIs.
Conclusions:
- Balanced anesthesia with CRI administration of injectable agents offers predictable outcomes in horses.
- Pharmacokinetically derived doses are crucial for optimizing balanced anesthetic techniques.
- This review provides a valuable resource for equine veterinary practitioners.
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