The effect of single pretreatment with salbutamol on recovery of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in horses with suspected or confirmed severe equine asthma

BACKGROUND: Bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) is a method for the recovery of respiratory secretion from the lower airways. OBJECTIVES: To investigate if the administration of a single dose of a bronchodilatator in horses with a suspected or confirmed severe equine asthma could improve recovery of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF). ANIMALS: Twenty‐eight horses with severe equine asthma. METHODS: Horses were divided into 2 groups: group “treated” was given salbutamol before endoscopic examination and BALF collection, whereas group “not treated” was not given. BAL was performed with BAL‐catheter by instilling 350 mL of sterile saline. Amount of recovered fluid was recorded. Statistical analysis was performed with a two‐tailed Student's t test. RESULTS: The average fluid recovery in the horses treated with salbutamol was 52% ± 15% (mean +/− SD), compared with 38% ± 13% for the group of horses not treated with salbutamol (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Clinicians should consider administration of salbutamol before performing BAL on horses with asthma.