Perianaesthetic complications in cats undergoing MRI of the brain

• Published in: Journal of feline medicine and surgery 2024-10, Vol.26 (10)
• Main Authors: Daly, Erica, Cardy, Thomas J, McFadzean, William, Taylor-Brown, Frances E
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 1098-612X; 1532-2750
• DOI: 10.1177/1098612X241275023

Objectives This study aimed to describe perianaesthetic complications in cats undergoing MRI of the brain and investigate if previously reported factors for anaesthetic mortality in cats are associated with an increased risk of anaesthetic complications in this population. Methods Records were reviewed of all cats that underwent MRI of the brain in a private referral veterinary hospital between June 2020 and January 2023. Cats that underwent additional procedures other than cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) sampling during the same general anaesthetic (GA) were excluded from the data set. Data were then collected regarding the signalment, presenting clinical signs, physical and neurological examination, GA protocol, complications experienced under GA and known survival time. Selected data were then compared between cats with an intracranial lesion and those without. Results A total of 43 cats were included in the study. In total, 41 cats experienced a perianaesthetic complication, which were subclassified as mild (n = 39) and severe (n = 15). Cats with intracranial lesions were more likely to experience severe perianaesthetic complications (odds ratio [OR] 12.4; 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.7–56.7; P