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Successful management of hypoxaemia in a mule during general anaesthesia
Author(s) -
Hoeberg Emma,
Levionnois Olivier,
Andréïs Sabrina
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
veterinary record case reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.165
H-Index - 4
ISSN - 2052-6121
DOI - 10.1002/vrc2.104
Subject(s) - medicine , anesthesia , general anaesthesia , tidal volume , salbutamol , respiratory rate , ventilation (architecture) , peak inspiratory pressure , positive end expiratory pressure , mechanical ventilation , heart rate , respiratory system , blood pressure , asthma , mechanical engineering , engineering
An 8‐year‐old, 167 kg mule was scheduled for surgical treatment of a hip luxation in lateral recumbency. During general anaesthesia, after a short phase of spontaneous breathing followed by mechanical ventilation at standard settings, the mule developed hypoxaemia (arterial oxygen partial pressure [PaO 2 ] 8.3 kPa). First, respiratory rate, tidal volume and fraction of inspired oxygen (FiO 2 ) were increased; 5 cmH 2 0 of positive end‐expiratory pressure (PEEP) and nebulized salbutamol were administered. Second, three vital capacity manoeuvres were executed (tidal volume of 20 ml kg −1 ). No immediate improvement in PaO 2 (8.0 kPa) was observed. A further recruitment manoeuvre with increased peak inspiratory pressure (up to 44 cmH 2 O) and PEEP (25 cmH 2 O) was performed. Over the following 120 minutes, PaO 2 increased progressively. The mule recovered without complications. This case reports that mules can develop hypoxaemia during general anaesthesia that can be treated with recruitment manoeuvres. However, the effect may not be immediate.