Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, Vol 35, Issue 1, 13-17
Copyright © 1999 by American Animal Hospital Association
Complications and mortality associated with anesthesia in dogs and cats
JS Gaynor,
CI Dunlop,
AE Wagner,
EM Wertz,
AE Golden,
and
WC Demme
The complications and mortality associated with anesthesia of dogs and cats in a university teaching hospital were determined. During one year, 2,556 dogs and 683 cats were anesthetized by the anesthesia service. Hypotension occurred in 179 (7%) dogs and 58 (8.5%) cats. Cardiac dysrhythmias occurred in 64 (2.5%) dogs and 12 (1.8%) cats. Transfusions were required in 31 (1.2%) dogs. Hypercapnea occurred in 33 (1.3%) dogs and one (less than 1%) cat. Hypoxemia occurred in 14 (0.5%) dogs. Anesthetic complications, as defined, occurred in 12.0% of dogs and 10.5% of cats, while deaths associated with the perianesthetic period occurred in 0.43% of dogs and 0.43% of cats.
