Clinical anaesthesia in the horse: Comparison of enflurane and halothane

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Abstract
Anesthesia was induced in 24 horses with xylazine and ketamine and maintained with halothane (12 cases) or enflurane (12 cases) in O2. Pulse rate, arterial blood pressure, arterial blood gas values, respiratory rate and tidal volume were measured at regular intervals during anesthesia. Serial venous blood samples were taken for assay of glucose, urea, hemoglobin, packed cell volume, gamma glutamyl transpeptidase, aspartate aminotransferse, alanine aminotransferase and creatine kinase. Operating conditions and the horses'' behavior in the recovery period were recorded. In the case of the group of horses receiving enflurane, difficulty was experienced maintaining anesthesia deep enough for surgery. This group displayed greater respiratory depression. There were no significant differences between arterial blood pressure values, or any of the hematological or biochemical parameters recorded in each group. Recovery from anesthesia was significantly faster in horses receiving enflurane but less smooth. 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.