Abstract

This letter reports the cardiovascular complications that developed in a cat after a 3 mL kg–1 fluid bolus of Ringer’s acetate during sevoflurane general anaesthesia. We highlight the possible side effects of acetate containing intravenous (IV) crystalloid fluids administered as a rapid bolus. Fluid therapy is routinely administered to veterinary patients during general anaesthesia, and IV fluid boluses are administered to increase preload, stroke volume and possibly improve tissue perfusion ( Boysen and Gommeren, 2021 Boysen S.R. Gommeren K. Assessment of volume status and fluid responsiveness in small animals. Front Vet Sci. 2021; 8630643 Crossref PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar ). To avoid unnecessary fluid administration, which may increase morbidity and mortality, the fluid responsiveness of an individual can be assessed with a preload challenge. This can be a mini IV isotonic fluid bolus of 3–5 mL kg–1, administered over 1–5 minutes ( Boysen and Gommeren, 2021 Boysen S.R. Gommeren K. Assessment of volume status and fluid responsiveness in small animals. Front Vet Sci. 2021; 8630643 Crossref PubMed Scopus (3) Google Scholar ).