Clinical anaesthesia in the horse: comparison of enflurane and halothane

Anaesthesia was induced in 24 horses with xylazine and ketamine and maintained with halothane (12 cases) or enflurane (12 cases) in oxygen. Pulse rate, arterial blood pressure, arterial blood gas values, respiratory rate and tidal volume were measured at regular intervals during anaesthesia. Serial venous blood samples were taken for assay of glucose, urea, haemoglobin, packed cell volume, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase and creatine kinase. Operating conditions and the horses' behaviour in the recovery period were also recorded. In the case of the group of horses receiving enflurane, difficulty was experienced maintaining anaesthesia deep enough for surgery. This group also displayed greater respiratory depression. There were no significant differences between arterial blood pressure values, or any of the haematological or biochemical parameters recorded in each group. Recovery from anaesthesia was significantly faster in horses receiving enflurane but less smooth. It was concluded that, although enflurane appeared to be safe in the horse, the respiratory depression and the unpleasant recovery did not make it a desirable alternative to halothane.