Balanced anesthesia and constant-rate infusions in horses.

Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Road, Guelph, Ontario N1G 2W1, Canada. valverde@uoguelph.ca

The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice 2013 Apr

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Balanced anesthetic techniques are commonly used in equine patients, and include the combination of a volatile anesthetic with at least one injectable anesthetic throughout the maintenance period. Injectable anesthetics used in balanced anesthesia include the α2-agonists, lidocaine, ketamine, and opioids, and those with muscle-relaxant properties such as benzodiazepines and guaifenesin. Administration of these injectable anesthetics is best using constant-rate infusions based on the pharmacokinetics of the drug, which allows steady-state concentrations and predictable pharmacodynamic actions. This review summarizes the different drug combinations used in horses, and provides calculated recommended doses based on the pharmacokinetics of individual drugs. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Citation

Alexander Valverde. Balanced anesthesia and constant-rate infusions in horses. The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice. 2013 Apr;29(1):89-122