Regurgitation under general anesthesia is a common event for both dogs and cats. Previous data support that up to 50-60% of all anesthetized dogs reflux gastric material/fluid into their esophagus. However, it is only 10-20% percent of these that may go on to regurgitate into the oral cavity. Identification and subsequent management of regurgitation is an important set of events that an reduce patient morbidity. Sequelae to regurgitation is not only aspiration and subsequent pneumonia but also the potential for esophageal and nasopharyngeal stricture and postoperative rhinitis. Discussed are the variables involved in reflux and subsequent regurgitation as well as management of these events in patients in order to reduce avoidable morbidity in anesthetized dogs and cats.

Nathaniel Kapaldo, DVM, MPH, DACVAA