Abstract
A 17-year-old 424 kg Connemara gelding presented for anaesthesia and exploratory laparotomy for treatment of colic signs. After induction of anaesthesia severe hypoxaemia was diagnosed on arterial blood gas analysis, and despite aggressive treatment with mechanical ventilation, salbutamol therapy and maximal inspired oxygen fraction, blood oxygen content remained below normal. The horse was recovered from anaesthesia. However, progressive septic shock, cardiovascular and respiratory compromise were observed over the following 3 hours, and the animal was euthanased due to grave prognosis. On post-mortem examination, the patient was found to have an oesophageal perforation and pleural effusion. Anaesthetic management was complicated due to exacerbation of the V/Q mismatch created by pleural effusion secondary to oesophageal perforation.
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