Retrospective Study of the Risk Factors and Prevalence of Regurgitation in Dogs Undergoing General Anaesthesia

The records of 5736 general anaesthetics were reviewed to estimate the prevalence of, and identify the risk factors for, the development of regurgitation during anaesthesia in dogs. Regurgitation was defined as the observed passive passage of gastric contents into the oropharynx. Several variables were evaluated using univariable and multivariable logistic regression analysis: breed, body mass, age, sex, type of procedure, expertise of anaesthetist, ASA status, drugs administered, length of surgery and anaesthesia and local techniques performed. Results showed that larger dogs, dogs with ASA status of 3 or higher, dogs undergoing abdominal surgery, imaging procedures or both, longer anaesthetic duration, and dogs receiving medetomidine in comparison to acepromazine and an opioid were more likely to suffer an episode of regurgitation.