Anaesthetic management of 10 horses undergoing cervical intervertebral body fusion ‘wobbler surgery’

Abstract

Surgical techniques for cervical intervertebral body fusion ‘wobbler surgery’ are frequently reported in the literature, but the anaesthetic management is rarely described. Considering the invasive and complex nature of the surgical procedure, prolonged anaesthetic duration and potential for pre‐existing and post‐operative neurological deficits, the anaesthetic and analgesic approach poses specific challenges. This article aims to discuss the anaesthetic management, intra‐operative complications and recovery experience in 10 horses undergoing surgical treatment of cervical spinal cord compression. The four types of intra‐operative complication encountered generally responded well to first‐line treatment. All horses recovered successfully, and recovery quality, in most cases, was good despite the presence of several factors known to adversely affect recovery quality. However, the need for additional intra‐operative ketamine and relatively high isoflurane concentrations to obtain an adequate anaesthetic depth despite provision of partial intravenous anaesthesia and multi‐modal analgesia indicates that further analgesic techniques may be warranted.