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Background: Neuromuscular block (NMB) during general anaesthesia has an implicit risk of inadvertent residual NMB during recovery. Reversal of NMB is commonly encouraged to decrease this risk, and has historically been performed with neostigmine/atropine, two agents with important cardiac and gastrointestinal side effects. Sugammadex is a new selective relaxant binding agent that can reverse rocuronium‐induced NMB efficiently and without these complications. Recommended doses are possibly cost‐prohibitive. Objectives: To measure the recovery time from rocuronium‐NMB after administration of low‐dose sugammadex, compared with spontaneous recovery. Study design: Nonrandomised in vivo experiments. Methods: Fourteen adult horses undergoing different research procedures were anaesthetised with detomidine and isoflurane. All horses received NMB with rocuronium 0.3 mg/kg IV. Neuromuscular function was measured with acceleromyographic train‐of‐four (TOF) ratio. Recovery occurred spontaneously in five horses weighing (median [range]) 548 (413–594) kg and was enhanced with sugammadex 200 mg (total dose) in nine horses (433 [362–515]) kg. Recovery time from moderate NMB to a TOF ratio 1.0, and total duration of NMB were compared between groups. Cases of recurarisation (decrease in the TOF ratio <0.9 after recovery) were identified within 30 min after sugammadex. Results: The dose of sugammadex was 0.46 (0.39–0.55) mg/kg. The recovery period lasted 21 (17–39) minutes for spontaneous and 4 (3–7) minutes for sugammadex. Total duration of NMB was 58 (41–70) minutes for spontaneous and 36 (21–43) for sugammadex (both p ≤ 0.003). There were no instances of recurarisation. Main limitations: Small sample size. Conclusions: A dose of sugammadex of approximately 0.5 mg/kg substantially shortened the recovery period from rocuronium‐induced NMB from a median of 21 to 4 min, when given at a moderate depth of NMB. No recurarisation was observed within the next 30 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: To describe the acquisition and pitfalls of a 3-view transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) protocol in anesthetized, dorsally recumbent dogs. ANIMALS: 8 beagles, 1 to 2 years old, 7.4 to 11.2 kg. METHODS: Dogs were anesthetized, mechanically ventilated, and placed in dorsal recumbency. A TEE probe was advanced, and 3 views were performed: midesophageal 4-chamber and long axis (ME 4C and ME LAX) and caudal esophageal short axis (CE SAX) at the level of the papillary muscles. Probe insertion depth, flexion, omniplane angle, and image acquisition time were recorded. Two observers assessed 24 video clips each and identified anatomical structures. RESULTS: The ME 4C and ME LAX were obtained at 35 (30 to 40) cm insertion depth, omniplane at 0° and 103° (90 to 116), respectively. Views were obtained in ≥30 seconds once the TEE was in the cervical esophagus. Left-sided structures were identified in all cases, whereas right-sided structures were not always simultaneously obtained in the ME 4C, requiring further probe manipulation. All structures were identified on ME LAX. CE SAX was obtained at 40 (35 to 45) cm, omniplane at 0°, and in 15 (10 to 90) seconds. A true SAX view (circular left ventricle at the level of papillary muscles) could not be obtained in all dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: A 3-view TEE protocol using core views as those described in humans may be applicable to dogs under general anesthesia and in dorsal recumbency. The CE SAX view at the level of the papillary muscles appears more difficult to obtain with consistency than midesophageal views. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to develop a three-dimensional (3-D) method for assessing ventilation/perfusion (V/Q˙ratios in a pig model of hemodynamic perturbations using electrical impedance tomography (EIT). To evaluate the physiological coherence of changes in EIT-derived V/Q˙ ratios, global EIT-derived V/Q˙mismatches were compared with global gold standards. The study found regional heterogeneity in the distribution of V/Q˙ratios in both the ventrodorsal and craniocaudal directions. Although global EIT-derived indices of V/Q˙mismatch consistently underestimated both low and high V/Q˙mismatch compared with global gold standards, the direction of the change was similar. We made the software available at no cost for other researchers to use. Future studies should compare regional V/Q˙ratios determined by our method against other regional, high-resolution methods. NEW & NOTEWORTHY: In this study, we introduce a novel 3-D method for assessing ventilation-perfusion (V/Q˙) ratios using electrical impedance tomography (EIT). Heterogeneity in V/Q˙ distribution showcases the significant potential for enhanced understanding of pulmonary conditions. This work signifies a substantial step forward in the application of EIT for monitoring and managing lung diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]