Use of a pool-raft system for recovery of horses from general anesthesia: 393 horses (1984-2000)

OBJECTIVE: To describe the pool-raft recovery system protocol and to evaluate the clinical outcome in horses that underwent recovery from general anesthesia using this system. DESIGN: Retrospective study. ANIMALS: 393 horses that underwent recovery from general anesthesia in the pool-raft system. PROCEDURE: Anesthetic records were examined from horses recovered from anesthesia in the pool-raft system between January 1984 and December 2000. Complete medical records of horses were examined when available. Information regarding the anesthetic and recovery period was recorded. Horses first recovered from general anesthesia in the pool-raft and, once awake, were transported to a recovery stall and lowered to the floor in a standing position. RESULTS: 351 horses underwent 1 pool-raft recovery, and 42 horses underwent multiple pool-raft recoveries. Most horses were recovered from general anesthesia within the pool-raft system to safeguard repair of a major orthopedic injury. During 471 pool-raft recoveries, 34 (7%) horses had complications within the recovery pool and 62 (13%) had complications within the recovery stall. Deaths resulted from complete failure of internal fixation, pulmonary dysfunction, or a combination of pulmonary dysfunction and fixation failure in 2% (10/471) of horses that underwent pool-raft recoveries. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: The pool-raft system is a good option for recovery from general anesthesia. Although not a fail-safe system, it appears to decrease the complications of recovering horses in a high-risk category. Potential disadvantages of this system are added expense and manpower necessary in building, maintenance, and usage, as well as size limitations of the raft itself.