Results of the confidential enquiry into perioperative small animal fatalities regarding risk factors for anesthetic-related death in dogs.
OBJECTIVE
To identify major risk factors associated with anesthetic-related death in dogs.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
148 dogs that died or were euthanized within 48 hours after undergoing anesthesia or sedation and for which anesthesia could not be reasonably excluded as a contributory factor (cases) and 487 control dogs that did not die within 48 hours after undergoing anesthesia or sedation (controls).


METHODS
Details of patient characteristics, preoperative evaluation and preparation, procedure, anesthetic and sedative agents used, monitoring, postoperative management, and personnel involved were recorded. Mixed-effects logistic regression modeling was used to identify factors associated with anesthetic-related death.


RESULTS
An increase in physical status grade, urgency of the procedure, age, or intended duration of the procedure; a decrease in body weight; anesthesia for a major versus a minor procedure; and use of injectable agents for anesthetic induction and halothane for maintenance or use of inhalant anesthetics alone (compared with use of injectable agents for induction and isoflurane for maintenance) were associated with increased odds of anesthetic-related death.


CONCLUSIONS
The results suggested that specific factors could be associated with increased odds of anesthetic-related death in dogs. Knowledge of these factors should aid the preoperative assessment and perioperative management of dogs undergoing anesthesia and sedation.
Brodbelt
David C
DC
Animal Health Trust, Lanwades Park, Kentford, Newmarket, Suffolk, CB8 7UU, England.
Pfeiffer
Dirk U
DU
Young
Lesley E
LE
Wood
James L N
JL
D000367:Age Factors; D000758:Anesthesia / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight / Q000502:physiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003219:Confidentiality; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D004285:Dogs; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D007431:Intraoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D016343:Monitoring, Intraoperative / Q000379:methods / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010092:Oximetry; D019990:Perioperative Care / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data / Q000662:veterinary; D012307:Risk Factors; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology