Emergency care in horses involves the immediate assessment and treatment of acute medical conditions or injuries to stabilize the animal and prevent further harm. This area of veterinary practice encompasses a range of situations, including colic, traumatic injuries, respiratory distress, and sudden lameness. Emergency care procedures may involve physical examinations, diagnostic imaging, fluid therapy, pain management, and, in some cases, surgical intervention. This topic includes peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methods, protocols, and outcomes associated with emergency interventions in equine medicine.
Troy JR, Holcombe SJ, Fogle CA, Epstein KL, Woodie JB.To determine the influence of hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose (HA-CMC) membranes applied to intestinal anastomoses or enterotomies on postoperative complications after emergency exploratory celiotomy. Methods: Multicenter retrospective case-controlled series. Methods: Adult horses (59 in the HA-CMC group and 91 controls). Methods: Medical records from 4 referral hospitals were searched for horses ≥1 year of age, treated between 2008 and 2014 with emergency exploratory celiotomy, and surviving at least 24 hours postoperatively. Horses receiving repeat celiotomy during the same hospitalizat...
O'Connor S, Hitchens PL, Fortington LV.The most recent report on hospital-treated horse-riding injuries in Victoria was published 20 years ago. Since then, injury countermeasures and new technology have aimed to make horse riding safer for participants. This study provides an update of horse-riding injuries that required hospital treatment in Victoria and examines changes in injury patterns compared with the earlier study. Methods: Horse-riding injuries that required hospital treatment (hospital admission (HA) or emergency department (ED) presentations) were extracted from routinely collected data from public and private hospitals ...
Paillot R, Marcillaud Pitel C, D'Ablon X, Pronost S.To date, vaccination is one of the most efficient methods of prevention against equine infectious diseases. The vaccinology session, which was organised during the annual meeting of the French Equine Veterinarians Association (AVEF) at Reims (France) in 2016, aimed to approach three subjects of importance for the equine industry. Vaccination against three major equine diseases were used as examples: equine influenza (equine influenza virus), rhinopneumonitis (equine herpes virus 1/4), and tetanus ( neuro-toxin). (1) Emergency vaccination: while it has been very successful to reduce the impact ...
Van Balen PJ, Barten DG, Janssen L, Fiddelers AAA, Brink PR, Janzing HMJ.Equestrian-related injuries (ERIs) are relatively severe compared with injuries in other popular sports. Previous studies on epidemiology of ERIs vary widely and mainly focus on incidence instead of severity of the injury. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine incidence, mechanisms and severity of ERIs in two Dutch hospitals (level 1 and level 2 trauma centers) over a 5-year period. Methods: All patients with ERIs who visited the emergency departments of VieCuri Medical Centre in Venlo and Maastricht University Medical Centre+ in Maastricht, The Netherlands, between July 2010 and J...
Mardassi A, Turki S, Mbarek H, Hachicha A, Chebbi G, Benzarti S, Abouda M.Combat-related facial injuries involve various lesions of the mouth, the eye sockets and the facial bones. The goal of this study is to precise the particularities of these affections and their therapeutic management. Methods: A retrospective study was performed about 56 cases of combat-related facial injuries over a period of 5 years (2010 - 2014). Results: Our study included 56 male patients with an average age of 29 years (20-37). The trauma occurred during a real security intervention in all the cases. It was isolated in 18 cases and associated to other lesions in 38 cases. Clinical examin...
Weber CD, Nguyen AR, Lefering R, Hofman M, Hildebrand F, Pape HC.The objective of this study was to investigate the nature, management, and outcome of major injuries related to equestrian sports and to define the at-risk groups for serious and life-threatening injuries. We analyzed demographic, pre-hospital, clinical, and outcome data from an international population-based prospective trauma database (TraumaRegister DGU®). Patients with major injuries (Injury Severity Score [ISS] ≥9 points) related to equestrian sports activities were included (January 1, 1993, to December 31, 2012). Clinical and outcome parameters were stratified for four different type...
Tremelling AM, Marley RA, Marley MB, Woofter CM, Docherty C, Salvator AE, Muakkassa FF.Many Americans sustain large animal-related injuries (LARIs) from blunt trauma. We compare the injuries and management of LARI in our region of the United States with those of motor vehicle crashes (MVCs). Methods: A 15-year retrospective study of trauma patients with LARI matched to MVC controls by Injury Severity Score (ISS), age, and sex was conducted. Values were statistically compared, and differences were considered statistically significant at P < .05. Results: There were 156 LARI cases, of which 87% were related to horses, 8% to bulls, and the remainder to deer, mules, bison, cows, ...
Glass K, Watts AE.Many long bone fractures that are not considered repairable in the adult horse are repairable in the foal. This is largely because of reduced patient size and more rapid healing in the foal. When there is no articular communication, the long-term prognosis for athletic function can be very good. Emergency care and transport of the foal with a long bone fracture is different than the adult.
Vieitez V, Gómez de Segura IÁ, Martin-Cuervo M, Gracia LA, Ezquerra LJ.Lipid emulsion has been reported to be effective for the treatment of local anaesthetic overdoses in rats, dogs and man. Objective: To describe the successful treatment of cardiovascular lidocaine toxicity in a foal with intravenous lipid administration. Methods: Observational study: case report. Methods: An 8-month-old Arabian cross foal was anaesthetised for removal of the right alar fold and nasal plate. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen and lidocaine administered with a loading dose followed by a continuous rate infusion (CRI). The anaesthetic period was uneventful and 3...
Shaver J, McRoberts D, O'Byrne B, Morgan B, Krall K, Surjan C, Mayberry J.Agriculture is an inherently dangerous industry. We sought injury data for use with the Idaho Time Sensitive Emergency (TSE) system to formulate goals and track improvements. Methods: Registries in southern Idaho were queried for ICD-9-CM diagnoses related to agriculture in 2014. Injuries known or likely to have occurred on properties intended for farming, ranching, animal care, or milk production, and relating to those activities were included. Results: Among 72 patients, injuries were related to horses (31%), machinery (17%), ATVs (17%), and hay bales/haystacks (13%). Average age was 45 (3-8...
Theodore JE, Theodore SG, Stockton KA, Kimble RM.This retrospective cohort study reported on the epidemiology of horse-related injuries for patients presenting to the only tertiary paediatric trauma hospital in Queensland. The secondary outcome was to examine the use of helmets and adult supervision. Traumatic brain injury (TBI) was examined in relation to helmet use. Morbidity and mortality were also recorded. Methods: Included were all patients presenting with any horse-related trauma to the Royal Children's Hospital in Brisbane from January 2008 to August 2014. Data were retrospectively collected on patient demographics, hospital length o...
Lascola KM, Vander Werf K, Freese S, Morgera A, Schaeffer DJ, Wilkins P.To compare blood gas, electrolyte, and metabolic analysis results between blood obtained by jugular and transverse facial venous sinus (TFVS) venipuncture in healthy adult horses and sick adult horses presented for emergency evaluation. Methods: Prospective, experimental study, from June 2012 to October 2013. Methods: Large animal university teaching hospital. Methods: Ten healthy adult University-owned horses and 48 client-owned adult horses (≥2 years old) presenting to the large animal hospital emergency service for medical or surgical evaluation of systemic illness. Methods: Venipunctures...
Roy MF, Kwong GP, Lambert J, Massie S, Lockhart S.Despite its widespread use in equine medicine, the clinical value of the systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) concept in horses remains unknown. Objective: To study the prognostic value of measures of SIRS in horses and identify the best model of severe SIRS to predict outcome. Methods: A total of 479 consecutive adult horse emergency admissions to a private primary referral practice. Methods: Prospective observational study. All adult horses admitted for emergency treatment over the study period were included. Multivariate logistic regression and stepwise model selection were used. ...
Schröter C, Bielefeld M, Bielefeld D, Macke C, Winkelmann C, Mommsen P, Krettek C, Zeckey C.The upper limb is one of the most frequently injured body regions in equestrian sports, but it is unclear which injuries are involved, and there are no data on the associated accident mechanism. The present study is aimed at evaluating the accident mechanisms, injuries of the upper limbs, and the circumstances of the accident in equestrian sports. We included 218 patients who were all treated between 2006 and 2014 at the level I trauma center at the Medical University in Hannover because of equestrian-related accidents. The most frequent injuries were fractures and bruising in the shoulder ...
Johnston GM, Eastment JK, Wood J, Taylor PM.To document the equine perioperative mortality rate and to highlight any factor associated with an increased risk of death up to 7 days after anaesthesia. Methods: A prospective observational epidemiological multicentre study. Methods: Data were recorded from all equidae undergoing general anaesthesia in 62 clinics. Power calculations indicated that 45 000 cases were required to detect the significance of important variables. Details of each horse, operation, anaesthetic agents and clinic personnel were recorded. Outcome at 7 days was recorded as: alive, put to sleep (PTS) or dead. Data were a...
Robertson SA, Bailey JE.To compare the arterial pH and blood gas values, heart rate and mean arterial blood pressure, in hypoxaemic anaesthetized horses, before and after treatment, with a salbutamol (albuterol) aerosol. Methods: Eighty-one client-owned horses weighing between 114 and 925 kg. Fifty-seven underwent emergency abdominal surgery and 24 were anaesthetized for elective procedures. Methods: Pre-anaesthetic medication included xylazine, detomidine, butorphanol and morphine, alone or in various combinations. Induction of anaesthesia was achieved with guaifenesin and ketamine, diazepam and ketamine, or guaifen...
Koljonen V, Söderlund T, Mäkisalo H, Gissler M.Contacts between humans and animals inevitably involve encounters possibly resulting in the human being injured. During the period of 2000 to 2014 almost 90 people died in this kind of conflict in Finland. Of these deaths, one third were associated with horses. In addition, over the same period 85 people died in traffic accidents in which an animal was hit by a car. Accidents requiring hospitalization occurred for approx. 8 000 people.
Nguyen HS, Lew S.Equestrian activities can be undertaken for competition or leisure. Accidents can lead to bodily injuries. In particular, traumatic brain injury (TBI) can be devastating. Limited data exist regarding the pediatric population with respect to patterns of injury and related neurosurgical intervention. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed data for all pediatric patients diagnosed with equestrian-related injuries with neurological injuries from 2005 through June 2015. Results: Nine patients (1 male and 8 females) had neurological injuries. Their mean age was 10.4 years (range 2.9-16.8 years). Intra...
Gorucu S, Murphy DJ, Kassab C.The purpose of this study was to investigate characteristics associated with farm equipment and horse and buggy roadway crashes in relation to person, incident, and injury characteristics to identify appropriate points for injury incident prevention. Information on crashes occurring on public roads during the years 2010-2013 was obtained from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) and analyzed. There were 344 farm equipment and 246 horse and buggy crashes during the 4-year study period. These crashes involved 666 and 504 vehicles and 780 and 838 people, respectively. In incide...
Paillot R, El-Hage CM.In 2007, Australia experienced the most extensive equine influenza outbreak observed in recent years. Extraordinary measures were rapidly implemented in order to control and prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease. The control strategy involved stringent movement restriction and disease surveillance, seconded by emergency post-outbreak vaccination strategies. Sixteen months after the first case and 12 months following the last reported case, Australia regained its equine influenza-free OIE status. This systematic review reports and summarises information relating to the implementa...
Collins NM, Axon JE, Carrick JB, Russell CM, Palmer JE.To evaluate severe hyponatraemia in foals presenting as medical emergencies to an intensive care unit (ICU) in order to determine the prevalence, clinical findings, primary diagnosis and outcome. Methods: Retrospective case study of records from Thoroughbred foals aged less than 3 months presenting to an ICU as medical emergencies in 2002-12; foals with severe hyponatraemia (serum sodium <122 mmol/L) on admission laboratory data were identified. Data retrieved included signalment, clinical findings, laboratory results, primary diagnosis, treatment and outcome. Results: Severe hyponatraemia w...
Lambert JL, Fernandez NJ, Roy MF.Band cells and toxic neutrophils are thought to indicate acute and severe systemic illness but no studies have investigated their importance in adult equine emergency admissions. Objective: The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of band cells and toxic neutrophils with systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) and outcome in horses. Methods: One hundred and five adult horses admitted on emergency basis to a private primary referral practice. Methods: Prospective observational study with sample collection. All horses admitted on emergency basis over the study period we...
Fogle J, Jacob M, Blikslager A, Edwards A, Wagner B, Dean K, Fogle C.Clinically useful biomarkers are needed for early identification of endotoxaemic horses. Soluble CD14 (sCD14) is amplified early in response to inflammatory signals, including bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and may prove a useful biomarker for clinical endotoxaemia. Objective: The aim of this study was to determine if sCD14 could serve as a more reliable biomarker of the clinical signs of endotoxaemia, compared to measuring LPS alone. Methods: Prospective observational study in horses at a veterinary teaching hospital. Methods: Plasma samples were collected from 20 healthy horses and 35 h...
Westerman TL, Foster CM, Tornquist SJ, Poulsen KP.To evaluate the use of the acute-phase proteins serum amyloid A (SAA) and haptoglobin as prognostic indicators in horses with colic with regard to the need for surgical intervention, development of complications, and hospitalization cost and duration. Methods: Prospective observational study. Methods: 20 clinically normal horses and 42 horses with colic. Methods: Total WBC and neutrophil counts and plasma fibrinogen, SAA, and haptoglobin concentrations were compared between healthy (control) horses and horses admitted to a veterinary teaching hospital for colic. Clinicopathologic values were c...
Schröter C, Schulte-Sutum A, Busch M, Winkelmann M, Macke C, Zeckey C, Krettek C, Mommsen P.The cervical spine is considered fragile and vulnerable to injuries in equestrian sport. This retrospective study investigates the injury pattern and severity. Patients of the medical university in Hannover from the years 2006-2011, who had an equestrian accident, were identified. Patients who had been injured in the course of their work were excluded. Results counted with a p-value < 0.05 were considered significant. In 13.1% of patients, there were 71 cervical spine injuries (92.4% female; 7.6% male). The mean age was 27.1 ± 13.2 years. Of these, 86.4% associated the injury to the r...
Lefebvre D, Hudson NP, Elce YA, Blikslager A, Divers TJ, Handel IG, Tremaine WH, Pirie RS.A recent survey of European Colleges (European College of Equine Internal Medicine [ECEIM] and European College of Veterinary Surgeons [ECVS]) revealed the different strategies implemented by, and some of the challenges facing, European clinicians presented with cases of post operative ileus (POI). It was concluded that further comparative analysis of opinions, canvassed from additional colleges of equine veterinary specialism worldwide, would provide valuable additional insight into current POI knowledge on a more global scale. Objective: To report and compare the current strategies favoured ...
Stier R, Tavassol F, Dupke C, Rüter M, Jehn P, Gellrich NC, Spalthoff S.The purpose of this study was to estimate the effect of the mechanism of trauma (fall versus kick), rider demographics, equestrian experience, protective equipment, and whether or not a horse was shod on the anatomic site of a horse-related maxillofacial fracture, operating time, postoperative complication rate, and length of hospital stay. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients treated for horse-related maxillofacial fractures at a single institution in Germany between January 2000 and March 2015. We used linear and logistic regression to test the above-mentioned...
O'Donovan KA, Aarnes TK, Hubbell JA, Parker EM, Mollenkopf D, Lerche P, Ricco Pereira CH, Bini G, Bednarski RM.To report anesthetic-related complications and determine risks associated with anesthesia in draft horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: A total of 401 anesthetic records for draft horse breeds that underwent general anesthesia from January 2010 through December 2020 were reviewed; horses euthanized during general anesthesia were excluded. Methods: Demographics, perioperative drugs used, procedure type and duration, time to extubation, number of attempts to stand, use of sling in recovery and perioperative morbidity and mortality were investigated. Morbidity and mortality statistical ...
Giebel G, Braun K, Mittelmeier W.In a retrospective study we reviewed 262 horse riding related injuries in children younger than 16 which were treated between 1975 and 1989 at the Section of Traumatology in the Department of Surgery, University Hospital Homburg/Saar. In 155 of these accidents, detailed information was gained via a questionnaire. The typical patient profile was that of young female equestrians with little experience and little weekly riding practice, without practicing falling-exercises and warming up often using different horses. At the time of the accident only 59% were wearing a head protection. Most accide...
Each year, traumatic brain injury (TBI) is associated with 52,000 deaths and accounts for one third of all injury deaths in the United States; in addition approximately 80,000 persons who survive TBI incur some loss of function, residual disability, and increased medical-care needs because of these injuries. Major causes of TBI are motor-vehicle crashes, falls, assaults, and sports and recreational activities. During 1992-1993 in Oklahoma, horseback riding was the leading cause of sports-related TBI. To further characterize horseback-riding-associated TBIs, the Oklahoma State Department of Hea...
Mair TS, Smith LJ.Early (acute) relaparotomy after surgery for equine colic is widely considered to be an acceptable treatment option for management of certain post operative complications. However, there is relatively little published information about resulting complication rates and short- and long-term outcomes. Objective: To document the proportions, indications, complication rates and survival rates of horses undergoing acute relaparatomy following colic surgery. Methods: History, clinical findings, surgical findings and procedures, post operative treatments and outcome of 300 consecutive surgical colic c...
Dirienzo LN, Dirienzo LT, Baceski DA.The study was designed to document the heart rate response to therapeutic riding in children with cerebral palsy having mild-to-severe disability. Methods: Participants consisted of eight youth riders with cerebral palsy, divided into two groups: ambulatory and wheelchair dependent. The riders received continuous digital heart rate monitoring during 10 weekly 20-minute therapeutic horseback riding sessions. Results: The averaged resting, median, and peak heart rate values, as well as the peak percentage heart rate reserve values, were significantly higher in the wheelchair-dependent group. Con...
Hassel DM.Thoracic trauma represents an important cause of morbidity in mortality after injury in human beings and animals. After any form of suspected chest wall trauma, initial emergency management should include assurance of a patent airway and adequate ventilation, along with treatment for shock if present. As with any open wound, tetanus prophylaxis should be instituted. Types of trauma to the thoracic region of the horse include pectoral and axillary lacerations, penetrating chest wounds, flail chest, fractures of the ribs, blunt thoracic trauma, and several potential sequelae that include pneumot...
In 2017 the Abruzzo region, located in central Italy, was struck by a sequence of four moderately powerful seismic events (5.0 magnitude on Richter scale), in addition to heavy snowfall that caused a state of emergency affecting the resident population and farm animals. A total of 282 stables were reported to have collapsed or been damaged and several animals (224 cows, 4025 ewes, 40,725 chickens, 22 horses and 3092 pigs) were killed. The Istituto Zooprofilattico of Abruzzo and Molise "G. Caporale" (IZSAM)-National Reference Center for Veterinary Urban Hygiene and Non-Epidemic Emergencies (IUV...
Santonastaso A, Hardy J, Cohen N, Fajt V.In certain situations, an alternate route for parenteral drug administration in horses may be useful. The intra-osseous (IO) route may provide a safe alternative to the intravenous (i.v.) route for administration of sedatives to horses when the i.v. route is inaccessible or undesirable. Six adult horses were administered xylazine i.v. or IO in a block-randomized crossover design. For the i.v. trial, both jugular veins were catheterized, and one was used for xylazine administration, while the other was used for blood collection. For the IO trial, one jugular vein was catheterized for blood coll...
Hanson RR.Extensive thermal injuries in horses can be difficult to manage. The large surface of the burn dramatically increases the potential for loss of fluids,electrolytes, and calories. Burns are classified by the depth of injury: first-degree burns involve only the most superficial layers of the epidermis;second-degree burns involve the entire epidermis and can be superficial or deep; third-degree burns are characterized by loss of the epidermal and dermal components; and fourth-degree burns involve all the skin and underlying muscle, bone, and ligaments. Burns cause local and systemic effects. Rout...
Samuels K, Bettis A, Davenport DL, Bernard AC.Nineteen million people participate in horseback riding activities in the US, and the horse industry employs more than 460,000 full-time workers. Emergency department data suggest young female amateurs and male professionals are most at risk of death from horse-related injuries. However, there has been no investigation into factors that may increase severe injury and mortality risk in these populations. This study investigates demographics and injury pattern differences between occupational and non-occupational horse-related injuries in the US. Methods: The 2017 American College of Surgeons Na...
Boesch JM.This article discusses anesthesia for horses with colic from acute gastrointestinal disease. Emphasis is placed on new developments in pre-, intra-, and immediate postoperative management over the last decade, including early goal-directed therapy (EGDT) in the resuscitation of septic patients, the controversy over the optimal fluid type to administer, and the management of complications, such as cardiovascular depression, hypoventilation and hypoxemia, and decreased colloid oncotic pressure (COP). An update on analgesia is also provided; older drugs such as ketamine and lidocaine are increasi...
Abu-Kishk I, Klin B, Gilady-Doron N, Jeroukhimov I, Eshel G.Horse riding and horse handling are dangerous. There is a lack of knowledge concerning the incidence of hospitalization due to horse-related injuries and types of injuries in Israel. During the last two decades we have observed an increasing incidence of hospitalizations due to horse-related injuries at our medical center as well as the frequent involvement of pediatric patients. Objective: To investigate these injuries with respect to type, incidence and modes of prevention. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of medical records for all patients admitted to Assaf Harofeh Medical Cente...
Norton JL, Dallap BL, Johnston JK, Palmer JE, Sertich PL, Boston R, Wilkins PA.The period between the onset of dystocia and its resolution has an important bearing on fetal outcome. There are few published data on which to base decisions regarding optimum management of cases in practice. Objective: To evaluate and compare the effects of a coordinated dystocia management protocol (CDMP) with that of a previous protocol of random management on time to resolution and outcome in both an emergency dystocia referral population of mares (referred emergency cases: EM) and in a population of mares residing in hospital due to high risk pregnancy (HRP) concerns that then experience...
Earle-Richardson GB, Jenkins PL, Scott EE, May JJ.Agriculture ranks as one of the most hazardous industries in the nation. Ongoing injury surveillance is key to identifying and preventing major sources of injury. Objective: The objective of this study was to compare the total number and types of injuries identified from community reporting versus two newly available medical data systems. These new systems are important because they are less time consuming and expensive to maintain. Methods: Farm injury case records from 2007 were collected for 10 NY counties from the following sources: ambulance reports, hospital data, and community surveilla...
Acton AS, Gaw CE, Chounthirath T, Smith GA.Horse-related injuries can cause severe morbidity and mortality. The objective of this study is to investigate the epidemiological features of horse-related injuries treated in emergency departments (EDs) in the United States. A retrospective analysis of horse-related injuries from 1990 through 2017 was conducted utilizing the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Cases were identified using the NEISS code 1239 (Horseback Riding: Activity, Apparel, or Equipment). Analyses performed included calculation of national injury estimates, relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence int...
Antoun JS, Steenberg LJ, Lee KH.Facial injuries caused by horses are relatively common among riding enthusiasts, but little is known about the nature of maxillofacial fractures sustained by those not mounted. We collected data on patients' characteristics, fractures sites, mechanisms of injury, and treatment of these fractures from the departmental records of the oral and maxillofacial unit at Christchurch Hospital, New Zealand between 1996 and 2008. Of 49 patients with equine-related facial fractures, 35 (mean (SD) age 35.8 (16.7) years) had sustained their injuries while unmounted (71%). Most of the fractures occurred in w...
O'Connor S, Hitchens PL, Fortington LV.The most recent report on hospital-treated horse-riding injuries in Victoria was published 20 years ago. Since then, injury countermeasures and new technology have aimed to make horse riding safer for participants. This study provides an update of horse-riding injuries that required hospital treatment in Victoria and examines changes in injury patterns compared with the earlier study. Methods: Horse-riding injuries that required hospital treatment (hospital admission (HA) or emergency department (ED) presentations) were extracted from routinely collected data from public and private hospitals ...
Fenn MS, Bortsie-Aryee AD, Perkins GA, Mann S, Tomlinson JE, Wood EM, Mix SE, Stokol T.Crossmatching is used to prevent life-threatening transfusion reactions in horses. Laboratory methods are laborious and technically challenging, which is impractical during emergencies. Objective: Evaluate agreement between a stall-side crossmatch kit (KIT) and a laboratory method (LAB) in horses with known and unknown blood types. Methods: Twenty-four blood-typed and alloantibody-screened healthy adult horses (Aim 1) and 156 adult horses of unknown blood type (Aim 2). Methods: Prospective, blinded study. Expected positive (n = 35) and negative (n = 36) crossmatches among 24 antibody and blood...
Krista KM, Kuebelbeck KL.To determine how survival rates in geriatric horses (>or= 20 years old) undergoing abdominal exploratory surgery for colic compare with survival rates for younger (nongeriatric) horses. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 56 geriatric horses and 487 nongeriatric horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy for colic. Methods: Medical records of all horses undergoing emergency abdominal exploratory surgery for primary gastrointestinal tract lesions over a 10-year period were reviewed. Data retrieved included signalment, primary gastrointestinal tract lesion, whether the horse was ...
Specht TE, Colahan PT.Medical records of 48 equids (47 horses, 1 pony) with surgical sand colic were reviewed. The diagnosis of sand colic was made if a sand impaction(s) was palpated during exploratory abdominal surgery or if a large quantity of sand was found during colotomy. Most equids did not experience a previous episode of sand diarrhea or sand colic. Clinical findings and results of clinicopathologic determinations were not diagnostic. Rectal palpation findings in 40 of 46 horses were compatible with large-colon and/or cecal distention. Impactions were palpable per rectum in only 7 horses, but emergency abd...
Srinivasan V, Pierre C, Plog B, Srinivasan K, Petraglia AL, Huang JH.Equestrian sports can result in a variety of injuries to the nervous system due to many factors. We describe our series of 80 patients with injuries sustained during participation in equestrian sports. Results: All patients seen at the regional trauma center with injuries associated with equestrian sports between 2003 and 2011 were reviewed; 80 patients were identified. Fifty-four per cent were female and the average age was 37 years (2·2-79·3). The mean injury severity score (ISS) was 9·9 ± 0·7. Only two patients had documented helmet use. Glasgow coma score (GCS) was 15 in 93% of patien...
Cook VL, Hassel DM.This article presents an overview of key factors that should alert the practitioner toward referral of a colic patient to a facility capable of surgical exploration or intensive medical management. Discussion includes a review of important aspects of colic history, signalment, physical examination findings, and diagnostic test results that indicate that a more serious medical or surgical condition exists, and advanced therapy is necessary.
Mudge MC.Treatment of acute hemorrhage in the horse involves targeted medical management and also may involve surgical stabilization. This article provides an approach to the initial stabilization and information on available topical hemostats. The practice of blood collection and transfusion is also described, with attention to new information on viability of transfused equine blood, potential negative effects of blood transfusion, and methods of cell salvage.
Whitehair KJ, Willits NH.To identify factors associated with various arterial partial pressures of oxygen (Pao2) in anesthetized horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 1,450 horses anesthetized a total of 1,610 times with isoflurane or halothane. Methods: Anesthesia records, particularly results of blood gas analyses, were reviewed, and horses were grouped on the basis of lowest Pao2. Results: For horses with lowest Pao2 < 120 mm Hg, those with low pulse pressure, that underwent anesthesia on an emergency basis, or that were males were more likely to have Pao2 < 80 mm Hg. For horses with lowest Pao2 <...
Minke JM, El-Hage CM, Tazawa P, Homer D, Lemaitre L, Cozette V, Gilkerson JR, Kirkland PD.The results of an accelerated immunisation schedule for horses used as part of the emergency response plan to contain and eradicate equine influenza in Australia in 2007 is described. The horses studied were vaccinated with a recombinant canarypox-vectored vaccine (ProteqFlu®, Merial) with a shorter interdose interval. Vaccinated horses included foals aged less than 4 months.
Holland AJ, Roy GT, Goh V, Ross FI, Keneally JP, Cass DT.To identify the frequency, spectrum and outcome of horse-related injuries in children. Methods: Retrospective case series of horse-related injuries in children admitted to the Children's Hospital at Westmead (CHW) from January 1988 to December 1999, the John Hunter Children's Hospital (JHCH) from January 1991 to December 1997 and deaths reported to the New South Wales Paediatric Trauma Death (NPTD) Registry from January 1988 to December 1999. Methods: Circumstances of injury; helmet use; adult supervision; type and number of injuries identified. Results: 232 children were admitted with horse-r...
Magdesian KG, Fielding CL, Rhodes DM, Ruby RE.To evaluate selected hemodynamic, blood gas, and biochemical responses to mild to moderate acute blood loss in standing, awake horses. Methods: Prospective study. Methods: 7 healthy mares. Methods: Each horse was restrained in standing stocks, and its head was maintained in a neutral position; sedatives and tranquilizers were not administered. During a 1-hour period, blood was collected into collection bags by use of a suction pump. The rate of blood collection was approximately 16 mL/kg/h (7.3 mL/lb/h). Thirty minutes after blood collection, the blood was readministered at the same rate. Cent...
Frankel HL, Haskell R, Digiacomo JC, Rotondo M.A 3-year chart survey and questionnaire was conducted of equestrian-injured patients at a regional trauma center to determine patterns and consequences of injury and rate of recidivism. Ninety-two patients (95 encounters) were treated; most were young (mean age, 27 +/- 11 years) women (84%) riders sustaining falls (80%). Most injuries were orthopedic (47%); 19 per cent of patients required hospital admission. There was one death. Helmet use was documented in only 34 per cent. Eighty-one per cent of patients responded to a follow-up telephone survey; 36 per cent recounted additional accidents (...
