Skeletal muscle blood flow in anaesthetized horses. Part II: effects of anaesthetics and vasoactive agents

Objective This review aims at evaluating studies investigating the effects of anaesthesia on skeletal muscle blood flow and associated cardiovascular function in anaesthetized horses and discusses how the results of these studies contribute to our understanding of the pathogenesis and prevention of post-anaesthetic myopathy. Database used Pubmed & personal files. Conclusion There is little published information on the effects of anaesthesia on skeletal muscle blood flow in horses. Available reports predominantly refer to halothane and isoflurane. The effects of vasoactive drugs have mainly been studied in halothane-anaesthetized horses. The results of these studies support the importance of cardiac output in the maintenance of adequate arterial blood pressure, perfusion pressure and muscle blood flow. Adequate perfusion pressure appears to be important for overcoming the detrimental effects of high intra-compartmental pressure in dependent muscles and hydrostatic pressure in nondependent muscles.