Early experience with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in 5 horses -- a case series.

This case series is the first report of the use of CPAP (continuous positive airway pressure) ventilation in adult horses. Two horses and 3 ponies anesthetized for orthopedic procedures in lateral recumbency received 10 cm H(2)O CPAP. During anesthesia, arterial oxygen partial pressure tended to increase and arterial carbon dioxide pressure tended to increase despite increased minute ventilation index. The measured cardiovascular parameters were within physiologic limits.