Acute Post-Treatment Enterocolitis in 13 Horses Treated in a Norwegian Surgical Ward (original) (raw)
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Necrotizing Enterocolitis in Horses: A Retrospective Study
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 1996
The clinical and clinicopathologic characteristics of fatal necrotizing enterocolitis were examined in 16 horses (age 4 months t o 12 years). At initial presentation, 8 of 16 horses were pyrexic (median temperature, 38.4"C; range, 33.8 t o 40.6"C); all 16 were tachycardic (median heart rate, 93 bpm, range, 66 t o 138 bpm); 13 of 16 were tachypneic (median heart rate, 36 bpm, range, 16 t o 80 bpm), dehydrated, and had discolored mucous membranes. All horses that were pyrexic were also tachycardic and tachypneic. PCV was high (>45%) in 14 horses. Six horses were leukopenic (<5,000 cells/pL); 12 were neutropenic (<2,300 cells/pL), and 14 had >lo0 band neutrophils/pL. Twelve horses were acidemic IpH <7.37; range, 6.88 t o 7.33) and the venous bicarbonate concentration was low (<23 mEq/L) in 14 horses. Median anion gap in 16 horses was 31.5 mEq/L (>I5 mEq/L in 15 horses). Eleven of 16 horses were hyponatremic (<I37 mEq/ L), 1 horse was hypernatremic (>I43 mEq/L), 3 were hypokalemic (<3.2 mEq/L), 6 were hyperkalemic b4.5 mEq/L), and 14 were hypochloremic (<98 mEq/L). Serum creatinine concentrations were high b1.4 mg/dL) in 15 horses. Abdominal e noted that horses dying after a brief duration of W disease characterized by depression, diarrhea, and metabolic derangement frequently had a histologic diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis. There are limited descriptions of the clinical and clinicopathologic findings in horses that die of necrotizing enterocolitis,'.2 although the characteristics of horses with diarrhea are well Therefore, the purpose of this study was to describe the clinical course of horses dying of necrotizing enterocolitis. The disease was characterized by a short duration, marked metabolic alterations, and death preceded by severe abdominal pain refractory to routinely used analgesics.
Retrospective evaluation of treatment of horses with colic over a period of 15 years
Pferdeheilkunde Equine Medicine, 2018
Colic is a common reason for both veterinary consultation and death in horses and to help decision making in such cases recent data on the outcome of treatment and identification of prognostic indicators is important. Patient records of all horses with colic admitted to the internal medicine section of a veterinary teaching hospital (VTH) between November 2012 and October 2013 were reviewed. Age, heart rate (HR), blood lactate concentration (BLa), packed cell volume (PCV), white blood cell (WBC) count and blood pH at admission, treatment and outcome were recorded. Results were compared to those obtained at the same institution during 2006-2007 and 1999-2000. During the present study period 867 horses were admitted and 311 (36 %) of these were admitted for colic, 207/311 (67%) of these horses were treated medically, 67/311 (22 %) surgically and 37/311 (12 %) were euthanized on admission. The short-term survival, defined as discharge from the hospital, for surgically treated colic cases was 60 %, while the survival for medically treated cases was 86 %. When all colic cases were analysed together HR (P< 0.01), blood lactate (P< 0.01), PCV (P< 0.01) and pH (P< 0.01) all differed significantly between survivors and non-survivors. When only treated cases (medical and surgical) were included HR (P< 0.01), blood lactate (P< 0.01) and pH (P< 0.05) were still significantly different. In the medically treated group only HR (P< 0.01) and lactate (P< 0.01) were significantly lower in survivors than non-survivors, while in the surgically treated group there were no differences between survivors and non-survivors. Blood lactate (>1.5 mmol/L), heart rate (>60bpm), PCV (>42%), acidosis (pH< 7.35) and small intestinal lesions were associated with increased odds of death. The number of horses admitted to the VTH was considerably lower during 2006-2007 compared to 1999-2000, but remained more or less constant from 2006-2007 until 2012-2013, as did the percentage of colic horses. The percentage of colic cases treated surgically has decreased slightly and the percentage of horses euthanized on admission increased slightly. Increased blood lactate concentration, heart rate, PCV, acidosis and small intestinal lesions were associated with increased risk of non-survival.
Preventive Veterinary Medicine, 1996
Many causal hypotheses for acute equine abdominal disease (colic) have been proposed. However, few epidemiologic studies have been undertaken to identify risk factors for the syndrome. Risk factors for equine colic were identified using a hospital-based, multi-center, case-control study. Horses admitted with abdominal pain to Cornell, Guelph, Ohio State, Pennsylvania or Tufts university veterinary hospitals between March and JDecember 1991 were selected. Control horses were randomly selected from a list of all other non-colic admissions. The person(s) responsible for the day-to-day care of the horse completed a telephone questionnaire. Risk factors were identified using multivariable logistic regression analysis.
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association, 2002
Objective-To determine current practices regarding use of antimicrobials in equine patients undergoing surgery because of colic at veterinary teaching hospitals. Design-Survey. Sample Population-Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons performing equine surgery at veterinary teaching hospitals in the United States. Procedure-A Web-based questionnaire was developed, and 85 surgeons were asked to participate. The first part of the survey requested demographic information and information about total number of colic surgeries performed at the hospital, number of colic surgeries performed by the respondent, and whether the hospital had written guidelines for antimicrobial drug use. The second part pertained to nosocomial infections. The third part provided several case scenarios and asked respondents whether they would use antimicrobial drugs in these instances. Results-Thirty-four (40%) surgeons responded to the questionnaire. Respondents indicated that most equine patients undergoing surgery because of colic at veterinary teaching hospitals in the United States received antimicrobial drugs. Drugs that were used were similar for the various hospitals that were represented, and for the most part, the drugs that were used were fairly uniform irrespective of the type of colic, whereas the duration of treatment varied with the type of colic and the surgical findings. The combination of potassium penicillin and gentamicin was the most commonly used treatment. Conclusions and Clinical Relevance-Results of this study document the implementation of recommendations by several authors in veterinary texts that antimicrobial drugs be administered perioperatively in equine patients with colic that are undergoing surgery. However, the need for long-term antimicrobial drug treatment in equine patients with colic is unknown. (J
Acute Diarrhea in the Adult Horse: Case Example and Review
Veterinary Clinics of North America: Equine Practice, 2006
Acute diarrhea is a clinical sign of large intestinal (typhlocolic) disease in adult horses. Frequently, the major clinical signs also include colic, dehydration, and endotoxemia, which sometimes rapidly progress to shock and, occasionally, to death. Underlying pathologic causes are mostly colonic flora disturbances resulting in pathogen overgrowth and gastrointestinal motility alterations as well as intestinal fluid losses and electrolyte and acid-base imbalances. Diarrhea is defined as increased water content in the feces compared with homeostasis. Acute diarrhea may differ somewhat in foals and adult horses because of differences in causative infectious agents, the intestinal site affected, and different colonic absorptive capacity. The initiating cause of the problem of acute diarrhea is frequently (O60% of cases) not determined. Acute colitis also produces rapidly severe catabolic conditions with marked acute weight loss. Acute undifferentiated diarrhea in a 4-year-old Thoroughbred stallion A 4-year-old Thoroughbred stallion was presented with acute onset of severe diarrhea of 7 hours' duration. The pertinent history was unremarkable, and the horse had been in full training and racing at the local racetrack. On clinical examination, the horse was depressed, clinically estimated to be 10% dehydrated, mildly colicky, and mildly tachycardic, but the temperature was normal. Venous blood gases and electrolytes showed mild metabolic acidosis with hyponatremia, hypochloremia, absolute and relative
Surgical Treatment of Colic Results in 181 Horses
Veterinary Surgery, 1983
A retrospective study was performed of 181 horses that underwent an exploratory celiotomy because of acute abdominal disease. Forty-four horses died or were euthanized during surgery. Of the 137 horses that recovered from anesthesia, 72 died of associated diseases or complications, 86 were discharged from the hospital of which 60 survived at least 7 months. Horses with disorders affecting the small intestine had a significantly lower survival rate. Causes of death early in the postoperative period included long bone fracture, shock, ileus, gastric rupture, and peritonitis. After discharge from the hospital, deaths were attributed to colic of unknown cause, malabsorption syndrome, adhesive small bowel obstruction, small and large intestinal volvulus, perforated bowel, and laminitis. Of the 60 horses that were alive at the time of survey, 93.3% had returned to their previous use. A second occurrence of the initial acute abdominal disease was not documented in any horse.
Medical Management of Right Dorsal Colitis in 5 Horses: A Retrospective Study (1987-1993)
Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine, 1995
Right dorsal colitis in horses has been associated with administration of phenylbutazone. Although reports of right dorsal colitis in this species have described surgical treatment associated with a poor prognosis, we have had success treating this condition medically. This report describes 5 horses with right dorsal colitis confirmed during celiotomy that were initially managed medically. All horses had a history of intermittent abdominal pain; weight loss was noted in only 1 horse. The doses (2.0 to 4.6 mg/kg PO bid) and duration (5 to 30 days) of administration of phenylbutazone were not unusually high relative to those recommended (4.4 mg/kg PO bid). Hypoproteinemia and hypoalbuminemia were observed in all horses at the time of admission; packed cell volume was low in 4 horses, and hypocalcemia was also observed in 4 horses. Three ight dorsal colitis has been experimentally and clini-R cally associated with administration of phenylbutazone to horses.'" Clinical signs associated with right dorsal colitis include anorexia? weight loss, intermittent or sporadic episodes of acute abdominal pain, and diarrhea.'-3 Surgical treatment is advocated in prior reports; however, the prognosis for affected horses is poor.'" At the Texas Veterinary Medical Center (TVMC), some horses with right dorsal colitis identified during celiotomy have been managed medically. The purpose of this retrospective study is to review the signalment, history, physical examination, clinicopathologic findings, and response of treatment in horses with right dorsal colitis managed medically. Materials and Methods All horses with right dorsal colitis managed medically at the TVMC between January I , 1985, and December 31, 1993, were included in the study. Five horses were identified by reviewing the medical records. All horses were used for athletic performance. The diagnosis of right dorsal colitis was made on the basis of surgical findings in 4 horses and at necropsy in 1 horse. Diagnosis of right dorsal colitis was based on gross findings of marked edema, thickening, or reduction in diameter of the intestinal tract restricted to the right dorsal colon. In each case, other gross intestinal lesions were absent, and the cause of abdominal pain was attributed to abnormalities of the right dorsal colon. Horses that had right dorsal colitis, but that were not managed medically, and horses that had other visible intestinal abnormalities accompanying right dorsal colitis were excluded from the study. The medical record of each horse was reviewed to abstract the following information: (I) date of admission; (2) age; (3) breed; (4)
Veterinary therapeutics : research in applied veterinary medicine, 2009
This study evaluated bacterial isolates obtained during abdominal surgery and their relationship to short-term incisional complications. Samples of peritoneal fluid and from resection and/or enterotomy sites from 49 horses were cultured, with 96% having at least one positive culture result. The most common isolates were Escherichia coli, Streptococcus spp, and Enterococcus spp. Horses with small intestinal resections were more likely to grow obligate anaerobes and enteric organisms. Horses with small intestinal lesions (+/- resection) were more likely to grow enteric organisms and less likely to grow non-enteric organisms. Horses without enterotomy or resection procedures were more likely to grow 3 isolates and did not grow obligate anaerobes. The continued incisional drainage rate was 10%. Horses with preoperative peripheral leukocyte counts >8,500 cells/ul were more likely to develop incisional drainage. Many horses undergoing abdominal surgery may have positive intraoperative ...