Postoperative effects of anesthesia and surgery on resting energy expenditure in horses as measured by indirect calorimetry.
Year: 2006
Type: article
Abstract: In this study, we aimed to define the effects of anesthesia and surgery on the resting energy expenditure of horses in experimental conditions. Six horses were used in a longitudinal study with 2 study periods: before and after anesthesia and surgery. Every horse underwent a standard 90-min ventral midline exploratory laparotomy. Oxygen uptake (VO2) and carbon dioxide output (VCO2) were measured, with the use of a closed-circuit spirometry system, on 5 consecutive days immediately before and after the surgery. In 3 consecutive 5-min periods each day, the expired air was collected in a Collins spirometer. Samples of the expired gas were drawn from the spirometer through a drying column into O2 and CO2 analyzers. Resting energy expenditure was calculated as [(VO2 STPD*3.94) + (VCO2 STPD*1.11)]*1.44. This study showed that anesthesia and ventral midline exploratory laparotomy in experimental conditions increase the postoperative caloric demand in horses by an average of 1.0 Mcal/d, which represents approximately a 10% increase (P = 0.03). Additional studies in critically ill horses after surgery are needed to determine their caloric needs and to optimize their nutritional management.
Source: Europe PMC (PubMed Central)
Authors: Antonio M Cruz, Nathalie Coté, Wayne N McDonell, Raymond J Geor, Brian A Wilson, Gabrielle Monteith, Ronald Li
Institutions: Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph
Language: English
Subfield: Equine
Field: Veterinary
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W66116088