title: Confidential enquiry of perioperative equine fatalities (CEPEF-1): preliminary results.
abstract: The Confidential Enquiry into Perioperative Equine Fatalities (CEPEF-1) is an observational multi-institutional prospective study of recovery outcome at 7 days post operatively, as called for by Steffey (1991). Data from 6,255 general anaesthetics (February 91-March 93) were submitted confidentially by 62 clinics. The outcomes of 333 cases which were subjected to euthanasia and which were not classified 'alive' or 'died' at 7 days, were excluded from the analysis. The remaining 5922 cases were analysed to identify risk ratios (RR) between survivors and nonsurvivors for a variety of factors. These preliminary results indicate an overall death rate, for equine patients dying or being subjected to euthanasia within 7 days of a general anaesthetic because of perioperative complications, of 102/6255 (1.6%). This mortality rate decreased to 46/5220 (0.9%) when all colic surgery and delivery of foals under general anaesthesia were excluded. There was an increased risk for mares in the last trimester of pregnancy (RR = 6.4). Patients undergoing emergency abdominal procedures (colic patients and pregnant mares undergoing controlled or caesarean section delivery of foals) under general anaesthesia were at increased risk (RR = 12.9) compared to ear, nose and throat surgery. Within orthopaedic surgery, patients requiring internal fixation were at increased risk (RR = 3.2) compared to those undergoing miscellaneous orthopaedic surgery. There was no difference in risk between breeds. Patients not placed in dorsal recumbency were at reduced risk (RR = 0.3-0.5) compared to those which were in dorsal recumbency.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Beaufort Cottage Stables, Newmarket, Suffolk, UK.
authors.forename: G M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Johnston
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Holmes
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wood
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D004338:Drug Combinations; D005065:Euthanasia / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000662:veterinary; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006140:Guaifenesin / Q000009:adverse effects; D006221:Halothane / Q000009:adverse effects; D006736:Horses / Q000601:surgery*; D007649:Ketamine / Q000009:adverse effects; D008297:Male; D009026:Mortality; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013522:Surgery, Veterinary / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D004338:Drug Combinations; D006140:Guaifenesin; D007649:Ketamine; D006221:Halothane