Donkey and Hybrid Anaesthetic Mortality in an Observational, Prospective, Multicentre Cohort Study

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Anesthesiology
• Equine Medicine

Background:

• Equid anaesthetic mortality is a key concern for practitioners.
• Specific data on mortality in donkeys and hybrids following anesthesia is limited.
• This study addresses a gap in understanding perioperative risks for these equid populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate and report on the 7-day mortality rates in donkeys and hybrids after general anesthesia or standing sedation.
• To compare mortality risks between donkeys, hybrids, and horses.
• To evaluate the impact of anesthesia type (general vs. standing sedation) on outcomes.

Main Methods:

• A worldwide, observational, prospective, multicentre cohort study (CEPEF4).
• Inclusion of 825 equids (757 donkeys, 68 hybrids) undergoing general anesthesia or standing sedation.
• Data collection on mortality within 7 days post-procedure.

Main Results:

• Overall mortality rates: 1.0% for donkeys and 3.6% for hybrids under general anesthesia.
• Standing sedation showed lower mortality: 0.7% for donkeys and 0% for hybrids.
• Hybrid mortality under general anesthesia was higher compared to horses; donkey mortality was comparable.

Conclusions:

• Donkeys undergoing general anesthesia have mortality rates similar to horses.
• Hybrids exhibit higher mortality rates compared to horses following general anesthesia.
• Standing sedation appears to be associated with lower mortality risk in donkeys and hybrids, though further research is needed due to small sample sizes.