Treatment of Low Arterial Oxygen Tension in Anesthetized Horses with Clenbuterol

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Abstract
Clenbuterol (0.8 microgram/kg intravenously) was administered to 10 anesthetized horses with an abnormally low PaO2 (less than 90 mm Hg) despite controlled ventilation with an oxygen-rich gas mixture. Results were compared with those from 10 controls to which no clenbuterol was given and in which conventional methods to increase PaO2 were ongoing. Horses treated with clenbuterol had higher PaO2 values for at least 90 minutes. Clenbuterol was associated with increased heart rate and profuse sweating. Clenbuterol can be administered intravenously to increase the PaO2 of mechanically ventilated horses that have low arterial oxygen tension while under inhalation anesthesia. Further studies are warranted to define more precisely the circumstances under which clenbuterol may be used safely.