Morbidity and mortality associated with anesthetic management in small animal veterinary practice in Ontario

Abstract

During 1993, 66 small animal practices participated in a prospective study to evaluate the incidence and details of anesthetic-related morbidity and mortality. Considering a total of 8,087 dogs and 8,702 cats undergoing anesthesia, the incidences of complications were 2.1% and 1.3%, respectively. Death occurred in 0.11% and 0.1% of cases, respectively. Logistic regression models were developed and showed that a significant odds ratio (OR) of complications in dogs was associated with xylazine (OR, 91.5); heart rate monitoring (OR, 3.2); American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) 3, 4, or 5 classification (OR, 2.5); isoflurane (OR, 2.4); butorphanol (OR, 0.35); technician presence (OR, 0.26); acepromazine (OR, 0.24); ketamine (OR, 0.21); and mask induction (OR, 0.2). Complications in cats were associated with ASA 3, 4, or 5 classification (OR, 5.3); diazepam (OR, 4.1); intubation (OR, 1.7); butorphanol (OR, 0.45); and ketamine (OR, 0.17). Cardiac arrest in dogs was associated with xylazine (OR, 43.6) and ASA 3, 4, or 5 classification (OR, 7.1). Cardiac arrest in cats was associated with ASA 3, 4, or 5 classification (OR, 21.6) and technician presence (OR, 0.19). This paper reports the incidences of complications and cardiac arrest in small animal practice and identifies common complications and factors that may influence anesthetic morbidity and mortality. This information may be useful in comparing anesthetic management practices.

Índice de mortalidade durante procedimentos anestésicos: estudo retrospectivo (1996-2006)

“…A xilazina estimula os receptores alfa-2 pós-sinápticos, produzindo vasoconstrição de curto período de ação (MUIR & MASON, 1993), e, posteriormente, a pressão arterial Tabela 2 -Protocolos anestésicos utilizados em cães e gatos que vieram a óbito, correlacionados ao índice percentual de mortalidade em relação ao número total de óbitos de cada espécie. DYSON et al (1998), demonstra que existe uma taxa de probabilidade de 91,5% de complicações transoperatórias em cães associadas ao uso de xilazina. Ainda nesse mesmo estudo, observou-se que a xilazina esteve envolvida em 43,6% das paradas cardíacas em cães.…”

Anaesthetic management for hydropool recovery in 50 horses

“…Pferdeheilkunde 26 519 her than the rate described in companion animals (0.11% (Dyson et al 1998 (Lagasse et al 2002)). …”

The safety, efficacy and neuromotor effects of the neurosteroid anaesthetic alfaxalone in rats

“…Xylazine itself has been implicated in several anaesthetic-related adverse issues. Twenty-five percent of complications in one study involved the use of xylazine in the veterinary anaesthetic protocol (Dyson et al, 1998). And an increased anaesthetic related mortality rate was observed in cats and dogs given xylazine (Clarke and Hall, 1990).…”

“…In veterinary practice, one study reported a 1 in 679 mortality rate in dogs and cats undergoing anaesthesia and another study recorded 48 in 3546 mortality due to anaesthetic related complications equating to approximately 1.4% (Whelan and Flecknell, 1992, Clarke and Hall, 1990, Bille et al, 2012. Mortality rates as low as 1 in 10,000 was recorded in the medical field (Dyson et al, 1998). In comparison, the Researchers' attitude towards acceptable losses varies from 1.4% as unacceptable to 9% being considered low (Whelan and Flecknell, 1992).…”