Abstract
To estimate the clinical advantages of oxygen-halothane (OF), isoflurane (OI) or sevoflurane (OS) inhalation anesthesia in horses, the qualities of transition to inhalation anesthesia, maintenance of surgical anesthesia and recovery from anesthesia were examined by using scoring systems in 212 clinical cases receiving various surgeries. Surgical anesthesia was maintained with OF anesthesia in 127 horses, with OI anesthesia in 31 horses, or with OS anesthesia in 54 horses. The complications in the cardiorespiratory system during anesthesia were hypotension and hypercapnia. The incidence of these complications were similar in all groups, and these were improved properly by dobutamine infusion and intermittent positive pressure ventilation. The qualities of transition to inhalation anesthesia and maintenance of surgical anesthesia in OI and OS anesthesia were better than those in OF anesthesia. The quality of recovery from anesthesia in OF and OS anesthesia was better than that in OI anesthesia. OS anesthesia is considered to be good at both controlling the depth of anesthesia and recovery from anesthesia in horses.
