Isoflurane Anesthesia for Equine Colic Surgery Comparison with Halothane Anesthesia

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Abstract
Isoflurane was compared with halothane as an anesthetic agent for emergency colic surgery in a series of 38 juvenile and adult horses. After presurgical stabilization with fluids and supportive medications, anesthesia was induced by intravenous xylazine and/or diazepam followed by ketamine. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane of halothane in oxygen with controlled ventilation. Heart rates (HR), arterial blood gases, mean arterial pressures (MAP), rate pressure products (RPP), requirements for cardiovascular suppot medications, and recovery times to standing were compared using nonparametric methods. Cardiopulmonary responses to isoflurane and halothan anesthesia were generally comparable although some temporal differences were observed. Higher HR (p < 0.02) and lower PaCO2 levels (p < 0.01) were identified during the course of isoflurane anesthesia. Recovery times to standing were significantly shorter (0.02 < p < 0.05) after isoflurane than anesthesia.