Breath Alcohol Test Results in Equine Veterinarians after Performing an Abdominal Ultrasound with Ethanol

SIMPLE SUMMARY: Inhalation of alcohol vapors from hand sanitizers or the use of alcohol-based mouthwashes produces a positive breath test for alcohol for a 5–10 min period. Abdominal ultrasonography is a diagnostic tool widely used by equine clinicians and is performed with alcohol saturation. In addition, the total examination time may vary depending on many factors, and consequently, the amount of alcohol used is also variable. The aim of this study was to describe the breath alcohol test results obtained by equine veterinarians performing abdominal ultrasounds on horses. Our hypothesis was that, after the procedure, positive results are obtained after more than 5–10 min, as described for the use of hand sanitizers or mouthwashes. A total of 36 examinations were performed by six operators. The time needed to reach a negative result ranged between 0 and 60 min. The amount of ethanol used ranged between 100 and 2500 mL. A significant difference was found for the group that used more than 1000 mL compared with the groups that used less than 1000 mL. Based on this study, equine veterinarians that attend colic emergencies can test positive at the breath alcohol test for up to 60 min, especially if they use more than 1 L of ethanol. ABSTRACT: Transcutaneous abdominal ultrasonography using alcohol saturation is used in the diagnostic workup of a variety of conditions in horses. The duration of the examination and the amount of alcohol used in each case may vary depending on several factors. The aim of this study is to describe the breath alcohol test results obtained by veterinarians performing abdominal ultrasound on horses. Six volunteers were enrolled, after written consent, and a Standardbred mare was used for the whole study protocol. Each operator performed a total of 6 ultrasounds by pouring the ethanol solution from a jar or by spray application, for a duration of 10, 30, and 60 min. An infrared breath alcohol analyzer was used immediately after completing the ultrasonography and at 5-min intervals until a negative result was obtained. Positive results were obtained for 0–60 min after the procedure. A statistically significant difference was found between the groups that used more than 1000 mL, 300–1000 mL, and less than 300 mL of ethanol. No significant differences were observed between the type of ethanol administration and the time of exposure. Based on this study, equine vets who perform ultrasound on horses can test positive at the breath alcohol test for up to 60 min following ethanol exposure.