Effect of head and neck position on respiratory mechanics in horses sedated with xylazine.

We studied the temporal changes in respiratory mechanics associated with xylazine administration (1.1 mg/kg of body weight, IV) in standing horses (experiment 1), and determined the effects of head and neck position (experiment 2) and atropine administration (experiment 3) on the observed changes. Thoroughbred geldings, 3 to 5 years old (5 in experiment 1, 4 in experiments 2 and 3) were used. Flow rates were obtained from a pneumotachograph and a differential transducer attached to a tight-fitting mask. Electronic integration of the flow signal gave tidal volume. Total pulmonary pressure (PL) was defined as the difference between esophageal pressure, measured with a balloon sealed to the end of a polyethylene catheter, and mask pressure. In experiment 3, a blunt cannula positioned in the dorsal third of the eighth or tenth intercostal space was used to estimate transpulmonary pressure. Lateral tracheal pressure was measured, using a polypropylene catheter inserted percutaneously in the midextrathoracic tracheal lumen. Upper and lower airway pressures were defined as the difference between mask pressure or transpulmonary pressure and lateral tracheal pressure, respectively. Five observations were made: (1) There was a significant (P less than 0.05) increase in PL from 10 to 40 minutes after administration of xylazine. (2) Although an overall agreement between head and neck position and PL was detected, the maximal PL value was not always obtained with lowest head and neck position. (3) Lower and upper airway resistance increased with low head carriage, with a greater increase in upper airway resistance resulting in a decrease in lower to total airway resistance ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)