Miguel Gozalo Marcilla, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECVAA, MRCVS This module provides a solid foundation in the core physiological principles of equine anesthesia, with particular attention to the factors that make anesthesia in horses inherently challenging. In addition, you will gain a practical understanding of anesthesia machines, equipment setup, and material selection, helping you prepare safely and efficiently for anesthetic procedures.
We begin by exploring the specific anesthetic risks associated with horses and the main factors responsible for their increased peri-anesthetic morbidity and mortality. Particular attention is paid to the important cardiovascular and respiratory changes that occur during general anesthesia and how these can affect tissue perfusion, oxygenation, and overall patient safety.
The module then focuses on practical strategies that can be used to reduce anesthetic risk. You will learn about the importance of adequate sedation and multimodal analgesia, as well as different approaches to maintaining anesthesia, including partial intravenous anesthesia (PIVA) and inhalational anesthesia. We will also discuss how appropriate monitoring can help identify problems at an early stage and review the different options for supporting and optimizing ventilation during anesthesia.
A second important part of the module focuses on the equipment required to perform anesthesia safely. You will become familiar with the different components of the anesthesia machine, their function, and how they work together. Practical considerations regarding equipment setup and material selection will also be discussed, helping you understand which equipment is required and how to prepare it correctly before anesthetizing a patient.
By the end of this module, you should have a clearer understanding of why anesthesia in horses carries particular risks, how these risks can be minimized, and how to prepare and use anesthetic equipment appropriately. This foundation will provide the basis for the more clinically focused anesthesia modules that follow.
General information:
Miguel Gozalo Marcilla, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ECVAA, MRCVS Miguel studeerde in 2004 af als dierenarts aan de Universiteit van León (Spanje). Na twee jaar te hebben gewerkt in de paardenverwijspraktijk “Hospital Veterinario Sierra de Madrid” in Spanje, verhuisde hij in 2007 naar België, waar hij tot 2014 verbleef. In deze periode behaalde hij het diploma van het European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia (ECVAA) en promoveerde hij aan de Universiteit Gent met als doctoraatstitel “Dexmedetomidine for balanced anesthesia in horses”.
Van 2015 tot 2018 verhuisde Miguel naar Brazilië, waar hij een postdoctoraal onderzoeksproject leidde aan de São Paulo State University (UNESP) in Botucatu. Zijn internationale onderzoeksteam bestudeerde de sedatieve en antinociceptieve effecten van verschillende combinaties van de alfa-2-agonist detomidine en het opioïd methadon.
In september 2018 trad hij toe tot de afdeling Anaesthesie en Analgesie van de Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies en The Roslin Institute van The University of Edinburgh als Senior Lecturer in Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia. Sindsdien is Miguel, op basis van zijn onderzoeksinteresses, medeoprichter van de wetenschappelijke onderzoeksgroep “Confidential Inquiry into Perioperative Equine Fatalities – Community Interest Company (CEPEF CIC)”, samen met Dr. Polly Taylor, Prof. Regula Bettschart-Wolfensberger, Dr. Mark Johnston en Prof. José Ignacio Redondo García. Deze onderzoeksgroep heeft als doel multicentrische, epidemiologische studies te coördineren, onder andere gericht op veterinaire anesthesiemortaliteit.
Miguel heeft talrijke onderzoeks-, review- en klinische artikelen gepubliceerd in peer-reviewed veterinaire tijdschriften. Hij geeft regelmatig lezingen op nationale en internationale cursussen en congressen, voornamelijk over anesthesie bij paarden. Daarnaast is hij actief lid van de SEAAV (Spanish Society of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia), de AVA (Association of Veterinary Anaesthetists) en erelid van het Mexican College of Veterinary Anaesthesiology and Analgesia.
In this module, we take a structured and practical approach to anesthesia
Charlotte Cuypers
This module focuses on the anesthetic management of horses presenting with instability,
Zoë Vandaele
This module will be available no later than October 1st, 2026. You
Charlotte Cuypers
