title: Anaesthesia in horses using halothane and intravenous ketamine-guaiphenesin: a clinical study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to define and evaluate a combined inhalation-intravenous anaesthetic protocol for use in equine anaesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, randomized clinical trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-eight horses (body mass 522 ± 82; 330-700 kg [mean ± SD; range]) with a mean age of 6 ± 4 years (range: 2-18 years) presented to the university hospital for various surgical procedures requiring general anaesthesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Animals were randomly allocated to one of two treatment groups. Anaesthesia was maintained in 14 horses with halothane alone (H group). The mean end-tidal halothane concentration was 1.24%. In the second group (n = 14) anaesthesia was maintained with both halothane (end-tidal concentration 0.61%) and a continuous infusion of a ketamine-guaiphenesin mixture (HKG group). The two techniques were compared in terms of qualitative differences and cardiopulmonary effects.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The stability of anaesthesia was significantly greater in group HKG and the need for dobutamine to maintain blood pressure was significantly less. Recovery times and quality were acceptable in all cases. There were no significant differences between the groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The infusion of ketamine and guaiphenesin in horses receiving low inspired concentrations of halothane provides suitable surgical anaesthesia and lowers the risk of hypotension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The anaesthetic technique described in this study is a useful and practical alternative to inhalation anaesthesia using halothane alone.
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Anaesthesiology Section, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spadavecchia
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Anaesthesiology Section, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Flurina
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stucki
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Anaesthesiology Section, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Moens
authors.affiliation: Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Anaesthesiology Section, University of Bern, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Urs
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Schatzmann
keywords: anaesthesia; guaiphenesin; halothane; horses; ketamine