Effect of intranasal oxygen administration on arterial blood gas and acid base parameters in spontaneously delivered, term induced and induced premature foals

The effect of intranasal administration of oxygen at a flow rate of 10 litres per minute for 10 minutes, was studied in a total of 19 foals (thoroughbred and pony) aged between 0·5 and 12 hours. Arterial blood samples were collected before and after oxygen administration for the determination of pa, O2, pa, CO2, pHa, and base excess. The foals were divided into three groups: five spontaneously delivered thoroughbred and pony foals (group 1), seven term induced thoroughbred foals (group 2) and seven induced premature pony foals (group 3). To examine the effect of duration of oxygen administration on blood gas values, three foals aged five to seven days received intranasal oxygen for 40 minutes and serial arterial blood samples were collected. Significant increases in pa, O2 values were found in group 1 and group 2 foals in response to intranasal oxygen. When the groups were compared, groups 1 and 2 had significantly higher pa, O2 values than group 3 foals, whether breathing air or oxygen. The duration of administration of intranasal oxygen had no significant effect on blood gas values.