Hyperthermia and Delayed-Onset Myopathy after Recovery from Anesthesia in a Horse

A 13-year old Thoroughbred cross gelding (528 kg) underwent lameness investigation. Because of his temperament, general anesthesia was required to facilitate ultrasound of the left fore fetlock and intra-articular medication of three joints. Anesthesia was induced with ketamine/diazepam after acepromazine/detomidine premedication. Anesthesia was maintained for 40 minutes with a guaifenesin/detomidine/ketamine intravenous infusion. Recovery from anesthesia was initially uneventful, although of a moderate duration (70 minutes). Once standing, the horse proceeded to box walk in an agitated state and became recumbent on two occasions. The horse was manually restrained, at which time its rectal temperature was 41.8°C. Cooling measures were employed (fans, ice-water enemas, wet rugs, intravenous fluid therapy (IVFT), and topical application of surgical spirit) until rectal temperature reached 38.7°C. IVFT was continued for a further 16 hours. Four days after recovery from anesthesia, bilateral triceps, deltoideus, trapezius, and rhomboideus muscle swelling was observed. Blood creatinine kinase was elevated (24,898 IU/L). Treatment for postanesthetic myopathy was initiated (hot packing of the muscle groups, topical dimethylsulfoxide [DMSO] cream application, and oral phenylbutazone). Myoglobinuria was not observed at any time. Muscle swelling decreased over the following 3 days. The horse was discharged on day 11 and has since returned to work.