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 H₂ 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.