Total intravenous anesthesia using a midazolam-ketamine-xylazine infusion in horses: 46 cases (2011-2014).

This study evaluated use of midazolam, ketamine, and xylazine (MKX) for total intravenous (IV) anesthesia (TIVA) in horses. Medical records of 46 horses undergoing a clinical procedure using MKX for TIVA were reviewed. Age, breed, procedure, heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), pre-anesthetic drugs, induction drugs, and total volume of MKX were recorded. Duration of anesthesia, time to standing, number of attempts to stand, and recovery score were also recorded. All horses were premedicated with an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist and anesthesia was induced with ketamine and midazolam. Duration of MKX infusion was 33 ± 14 min. Heart rate and RR decreased during the infusion of MKX. Time to endotracheal extubation was 19 ± 12 min. Horses stood at 33 ± 13 min. Median number of attempts to stand was 1. Maintenance of anesthesia of horses with MKX was useful for a variety of procedures and recovery from anesthesia was good.