A Retrospective Study on Canine and Feline Mortality during Anaesthesia at a University Clinic in Greece

Abstract

This retrospective cohort study investigated the mortality rate during anaesthesia and possible contributing factors in canine and feline population in an academic institution in Greece. Data on 1187 dogs and 250 cats which underwent general anaesthesia from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2019 at the Veterinary Faculty of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki were analysed regarding cardiac arrest and mortality. In dogs, the rate of cardiac arrest was 1.1% and the rate of death was 0.6%. In cats, these rates were 2.8% and 0.8%, respectively. The mortality rate in healthy/mild disease (ASA I-II) dogs was 0.1% and in cats was 0.5%. Sick (ASA III-V) dogs exhibited a death rate of 2.6%, while sick cats had a rate of 2.2%. In dogs, ASA status had a positive association with cardiac arrest and mortality, with sick dogs being 23 times more likely to suffer cardiac arrest and 24.5 times more likely to die than healthy/mild disease ones. Other factors associated with cardiac arrest and mortality were the anaesthetic protocol and the use of inotropes. In cats, premedication and inotropic support were related to cardiac arrest and death. Feline anaesthesia involves higher risk, and requires greater vigilance in peri-anaesthetic management than dogs.

Anaesthetic mortality in cats: A worldwide analysis and risk assessment

“…Our study's more significant proportion of high‐risk patients might explain the differences observed. However, other studies including a high proportion of ASA III‒IV patients showed a higher risk of anaesthetic‐related death than found in our study 18–21 . The random inclusion of centres throughout the project and the extended duration of case solicitation may potentially influence the population characteristics and, consequently, the death rate.…”

“…This observation has been particularly noted in human anaesthesia studies, specifically when comparing developed and developing regions 31 . Some studies have focused on specific hospitals, providing meaningful information that may only be relevant to those centres 1,18,28,32,33 . In contrast, the current research provides a global perspective by collecting data from multiple clinics, including primary care and referral centres.…”