Hemorrhagic myelomalacia following general anesthesia in a horse.
An 18-month-old male Belgian horse was anesthetized and placed in dorsal recumbency for cryptorchidectomy. Xylazine was used for sedation and guaifenesin with thiamylal for induction of anesthesia. A surgical plane of anesthesia was maintained with halothane. During anesthesia, second-degree atrio-ventricular blocks, hypoventilation and a 1-minute duration rise of mean arterial pressure (80 to 130 mm Hg) occurred. Total anesthesia time was 1 hour. On recovery from anesthesia, the horse exhibited flaccid paralysis of the hind limbs and was only able to elevate himself to a dog sitting position. The horse was humanely euthanized 22 hours postoperatively due to a lack of improvement in clinical signs. Hemorrhagic poliomyelomalacic lesions of the spinal cord were observed on histopathological examination of the spinal cord.
Lerche
E
E
Faculte de Medecine Veterinaire, Departement de Medecine, Saint Hyacinthe (QC), Canada.
Laverty
S
S
Blais
D
D
Sauvageau
R
R
Cuvelliez
S
S
D000768:Anesthesia, General / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D003456:Cryptorchidism / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006470:Hemorrhage / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D009336:Necrosis; D010264:Paraplegia / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D013116:Spinal Cord / Q000473:pathology; D013118:Spinal Cord Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*