Anaesthesia and ventilation strategy in a horse undergoing pulmonectomy

P>A 7-year-old, 430 kg Standardbred gelding was presented to the hospital with severe bilateral purulent pleuropneumonia requiring partial pulmonectomy. Prior to surgery the trachea was intubated through a tracheotomy site using a customised tube (10 mm internal diameter)-in-tube (26 mm internal diameter) endotracheal tube, similar to a bronchial blocker tube in design. The left lung was selectively mechanically ventilated. Thoracotomy was performed and a major lung abscess and surrounding lung tissue were resected. Arterial PO2 and PCO2 remained 79-305 and 43-72 mmHg, respectively, and haemodynamic variables within a range acceptable for general anaesthesia in the horse. A 5 month follow-up revealed complete resolution of the pleuropneumonia without signs of recurrence.