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Topic:Post-Operative Period
The post-operative period in horses refers to the timeframe following surgical procedures during which the animal undergoes recovery and rehabilitation. This period involves careful monitoring and management to ensure proper healing and to minimize complications. Key aspects of the post-operative period include pain management, wound care, and the prevention of infections. Horses may require restricted movement, dietary adjustments, and regular veterinary evaluations to assess recovery progress. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the management strategies, physiological responses, and outcomes associated with the post-operative period in equine patients.
Temporary indwelling rectal liner for use in horses with rectal tears. A temporary indwelling liner was surgically installed in 17 horses with grade III or grade IV rectal tears. The rectal tears of 9 of the horses healed. The remaining 8 horses developed peritonitis as a result of peritoneal contamination before surgery, a change in grade of the tear, or material failure.
Urinary bladder rupture in a two-year-old horse: sequel to a surgically repaired neonatal injury. After routine cryptorchid castration, a 2-year-old Thoroughbred colt was admitted 72 hours later because of depression, abdominal distention, and pollakiuria, with production of small quantities of urine. A diagnosis of a ruptured bladder was made on the basis of a large volume of abdominal fluid and a disparity between the urea nitrogen and creatinine concentrations in the serum (70 mg/dl and 8.4 mg/dl, respectively) and in the abdominal fluid (154 mg/dl and 43 mg/dl, respectively). The colt had undergone surgical correction of a ruptured urinary bladder at 4 days of age, and a 5-cm tear thro...
Use of intraoperative ultrasonography to identify a cervical foreign body. A case report. Real-time ultrasound was used to identify a foreign-body abscess causing an extraluminal esophageal obstruction in the neck of a horse. Surgical exploration to remove the foreign body and drain the abscess was performed after 2 months of medical management that had failed to resolve the problem. The abscess could not be visualized because there was no draining tract or other localizing sign of inflammation. Ultrasound was used aseptically to guide surgical dissection to the walled off abscess with minimal damage to adjacent vital structures in the surgical field. The signs of esophageal obstru...
A technique for elective splenectomy of equidae using a transthoracic approach. Splenectomy was performed electively on 80 ponies, horses, and donkeys for preparation in collecting Babesia antigens. Access to the abdomen was by resection of the sixteenth left rib and incision of the diaphragm. The technique afforded good exposure of the splenic vessels and attachments. Closure was facilitated by preservation of the periosteum of the resected rib. Difficulty was encountered both in surgical technique and postoperative complications in obese animals. The transthoracic approach was found to be a useful technique for equine splenectomy.
Arthroscopic surgery for the treatment of osteochondral chip fractures in the equine carpus. The technique and results of arthroscopic surgery for the removal of osteochondral fragments from 1,000 carpal joints in 591 horses are reported. Of the 591 horses, 580 were racehorses (including 349 Quarter Horses and 220 Thoroughbreds). The distal aspect of the radial carpal bone was the most commonly affected site, followed by the proximal aspect of the intermediate carpal bone and distolateral aspect of the radius. More than one carpal joint was simultaneously operated on in 58.9% of the Quarter Horses and in 37.4% of the Thoroughbreds. Marked differences in the amount of damage were noted...
Surgical repair of a supraglenoid tubercle fracture in a horse. A fractured right supraglenoid tubercle in a 15-month-old Thoroughbred gelding was repaired by partial biceps brachii tenotomy, interfragmentary compression, and tension band wiring. The horse is currently being ridden daily and has remained sound for 4 years.
Use of an external skeletal fixation device and bone graft for arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal joint in horses. Arthrodesis of the metacarpophalangeal joint was attempted in 9 adult horses, using a new external skeletal fixation device and autogenous cancellous bone graft. Four horses had excellent results, 2 horses had fair results, arthrodesis failed in 2 horses, and 1 horse fractured the third metacarpal bone. The advantages of the technique included minimal surgical trauma to the area of injury, immediate rigid fixation of the metacarpophalangeal joint, and access for treatment of soft-tissue lesions at the site of injury. Although pin loosening and pin-track infection were complications when the de...
Balloon-tipped catheter arterial occlusion for prevention of hemorrhage caused by guttural pouch mycosis: 13 cases (1982-1985). Epistaxis, caused by guttural pouch mycosis, was treated by balloon-tipped catheter and ligature occlusion of the involved arteries in 13 horses. In 7 horses, more than one artery was catheterized. Serious postoperative hemorrhage was prevented in all horses. Long-term endoscopic follow-up examination was possible in 8 horses, and all had complete regression of the fungal lesion as early as 5 weeks after surgery. Six of the 8 horses did not receive medical treatment. Problems related to the use of the balloon-tipped catheter technique were rare. There were incisional infections in 3 horses, ca...
Rectal leiomyosarcoma in a horse. A mass originating from the dorsal rectal wall of a 4-year-old mare was diagnosed as a leiomyosarcoma. General anesthesia and meticulous surgical dissection were required to effect removal. In spite of incomplete excision, as indicated by histologic sections, the mass has not recurred in the 18 months since removal.
Jejunocolic anastomosis for the surgical management of recurrent cecal impaction in a horse. A 5-year-old Thoroughbred gelding with recurrent cecal impaction refractory to medical management was treated with a side-to-side jejunocolic anastomosis. Cecal impaction did not recur after surgery. The horse gained weight and performed successfully for 14 months, but experienced three episodes of mild abdominal pain between 14 and 20 months after surgery. Mild cecal gas distention and firm ingesta in the colon were detected on rectal examination. The horse's feces remained soft after surgery, except during the colic episodes when dry, firm feces were passed.
Management of fractures and exostosis of the metacarpals and metatarsals II and IV in 25 horses. Twenty-five cases of fractures of the second and fourth metacarpal and metatarsal (splint) bones were reviewed. Fourteen fractures involved a thoracic limb and 11 involved a pelvic limb. Fractures of the proximal one-third of splint bones are reported in one of two forms: fractures that are closed, or fractures with a permanent or intermittent draining sinus. Thirteen of the fractures presented were closed fractures and the remaining 12 were open. All of the closed fractures were managed by surgical excision of the distal fragment and the exostosis at the fracture site, followed by primary sur...
Surgical repair of an esophageal stricture in a horse. An esophageal stricture was diagnosed in a 9-month-old quarterhorse by esophagoscopy and positive pressure contrast esophagography. Medical management and two attempts at surgical intervention were unsuccessful. The initial surgical technique used was a linear esophagotomy, mucosal resection and anastomosis, and closure of the muscular tunic, which resulted in a more severe stricture. The second surgical procedure was interruption of the stricture cicatrix by a single linear esophagotomy and primary closure of only the esophageal muscular tunic. This technique resulted in an increased lumen di...
Some metabolic and hormonal changes associated with general anaesthesia and surgery in the horse. Three different anaesthetic techniques were studied in normal, healthy Thoroughbred or Thoroughbred type horses. These were (a) acepromazine, thiopentone and suxamethonium; (b) acepromazine, glyceryl guaiacolate and a 'half-dose' of thiopentone; and (c) xylazine and ketamine. Anaesthesia was maintained with halothane vaporized in oxygen and nitrous oxide. All horses underwent either laryngeal or body surface surgery. Heart rate, packed cell volume, blood glucose and lactate, plasma non-esterified fatty acids, insulin and cortisol were measured before, during and after surgery. The greatest met...
Evaluation of 2 types of external skeletal fixation for repair of experimental tibial fractures in foals. Transverse or oblique midshaft tibial osteotomies were created in 11 foals. The osteotomies were repaired during the same procedure using external skeletal fixation in either full splint or 3-dimensional (3-D) tent configurations. Four of the six foals receiving the full splint fixator recovered to full soundness; two were euthanized because of complications. The foals receiving the 3-D tent configuration would not bear weight on the limbs and consequently suffered significant secondary fracture disease. These foals were euthanized for humane reasons before the scheduled termination of the pro...
A potential technique error in stapled side-to-side anastomosis of the small intestine of the horse. Anastomotic leakage was noted to occur at the junction of the staple lines used to create the stoma during small intestine side-to-side anastomosis. The anastomosis was performed in a clinical equine patient by joining the lateral surfaces of the intestinal segments using a gastrointestinal anastomosis stapling instrument (GIA). The cause of this problem was investigated by performing six anastomoses in the jejunum of a single anesthetized adult horse using the GIA; three anastomoses were created by joining the antimesenteric edges of the bowel segments and three anastomoses were created by jo...
Extension large colon resection in 12 horses. Extensive resection (50-75%) of the large colon was performed in 12 horses. Indications for resection were: loss of viability due to large colon volvulus (seven), thromboembolic episode (three), impairment of flow of ingesta due to adhesions (one), or congenital abnormalities (one). The time required to correct the primary cause of abdominal pain and complete the resection ranged from 2.5 to 4.75 hours. Three horses had severe musculoskeletal problems postoperatively and were euthanized in the recovery stall. Four other horses were euthanized early in the postoperative period because of: furth...
Elective inversion of the distal ileal stump into the caecum of the horse. The distal 30 to 40 cm of the ileum cannot be exteriorized through a midline laparotomy incision because of its close anatomical association with the base of the caecum. A method was developed to deal with those cases where this segment of small intestine was involved in an avascular, necrotic process and therefore required resection. The technique involves inverting the distal stump of ileum into the lumen of the caecum and then performing a routine ileocaecal or jejunocaecal anastomosis. This avoids the risk of peritonitis if a Parker-Kerr oversew of the necrotic ileal stump should dehisce. ...
Arterial blood gas tensions in the horse during recovery from anesthesia. The effects of body position and postoperative oxygen supplementation on arterial blood gas tensions (PaO2 and PaCO2) and pH were examined in clinically normal adult horses during recovery from halothane anesthesia. Hypoxemia developed during recovery from anesthesia in spite of adequate alveolar ventilation in horses without postanesthetic oxygen supplementation. Hypoxemia developed in horses positioned in left lateral or right lateral recumbency, and in horses that were rolled to the opposite side during the recovery period. Arterial blood gas tensions were not significantly (P greater than ...
Congenital sinus cyst in a foal. Radiography and endoscopy of a 17-day-old Standardbred foal that had right-sided facial swelling and dyspnea since birth revealed a soft tissue mass in the right nasal passage and right maxillary and frontal sinuses. A bone flap was used to expose the mass, and a fluid-filled structure was removed surgically. After surgery, the dyspnea was alleviated. The facial deformity resolved by the time the foal was 6 months old. The upper airway obstruction was absent clinically and endoscopically by the time the foal was 17 months old.
Repeat sternotomy after reconstruction of the pericardial sac with glutaraldehyde-preserved equine pericardium. The risk of repeat sternotomy is higher than that of the initial sternotomy, especially if the pericardial sac was left open at the first intervention. In 200 consecutive patients with a pericardial defect after open heart operations, the pericardium was closed with a glutaraldehyde-preserved equine pericardial patch. Precardiac adhesions at reoperation were assessed in four groups of patients on a scale of 6, ranging from 0 (no adhesions) to 5 (calcified or ossified adhesions). Group I comprised 13 patients in whom the pericardium was left open at the first operation and an equine pericardial...
Acquired incarcerated inguinal hernia: a review of 13 horses. The case records of 13 horses with acquired incarcerated inguinal hernia in January-August 1983, were reviewed. Nine cases were in stallions. The remaining four involved eventration 5-48 hours following castration. Ages ranged from 1-17 years. Horses showed a variable degree of colic. Bowel was felt to pass through the internal inguinal ring on rectal examination in most cases. The physical features of the scrotum varied considerably. Resection of ischemic jejunum and/or ileum was necessary in three horses. Two horses were euthanized at surgery (one with bilateral ischemic jejunum, one with bo...
A clinical trial of three anaesthetic regimens for the castration of ponies. After premedication with intravenous xylazine 30 ponies were anaesthetised for castration under field conditions with intravenous ketamine, thiopentone or methohexitone. The duration of anaesthesia was adequate for surgery and the times taken to stand were similar in each group. The recovery of the ponies after ketamine was quieter than after either of the barbiturates and this may be an advantage when skilled assistance is lacking. However, all the anaesthetics appeared to be suitable for performing minor surgery in the field.
Strangulated umbilical hernias in horses: 13 cases (1974-1985). The medical records of 13 horses with strangulated umbilical hernias were reviewed. Typical history included increased swelling, warmth, and firmness of the hernial sac. Enterocutaneous fistulas had developed in 2 horses. Four horses had signs of abdominal pain. Surgery was performed on all horses, and the hernia was reduced by an open reduction technique. Incarcerated tissue included omentum (1 horse), jejunum (5), ileum (4), cecum (1), and ventral colon (2). All horses survived and were discharged from the hospital. Follow-up information on 9 horses (5 to 52 months after discharge) revealed ...
Surgical reconstruction of chronic coronary band avulsions in three horses. Three adult horses were admitted with chronic coronary band avulsions of 2-, 3-, and 46-month durations, respectively. The hoof had a typical appearance in all 3 horses, with a spur of coronary band and associated horn growing at right angles to the hoof wall. Each horse was anesthetized, and the coronary band was reconstructed. Follow-up evaluation of the 3 horses (12, 15, and 23 months after surgery, respectively), revealed healing of all 3 avulsed coronary bands. Mild roughening of the hoof wall distal to the previous avulsion site was observed.
Pharmacokinetics of intravenously administered ketamine in the horse. The metabolism and distribution of ketamine and its two major metabolites (norketamine and dehydronorketamine) was investigated in 10 horses undergoing airway surgery. Following premedication with xylazine (1.1 mg kg-1 intravenously) anaesthesia was induced by the rapid injection of ketamine at a dose of 2.2 mg kg-1 intravenously. Anaesthesia was maintained with halothane vaporized in oxygen and nitrous oxide (50:50). Serially collected blood samples were analysed by a sensitive gas liquid chromatographic technique. Plasma ketamine concentrations declined biexponentially with a rapid initial d...
Experimental crush of the equine recurrent laryngeal nerve: a study of normal and aberrant reinnervation. Experimental reinnervation of the equine larynx in healthy ponies was studied after the recurrent laryngeal nerve was crushed, using endoscopic, electromyographic, and microscopic techniques. In 12 ponies, the recurrent laryngeal nerve was crushed unilaterally in the midcervical area. All showed postoperative paralysis of the larynx on the operated side. In 8 ponies, recovery of movement of the vocal folds occurred at different times (2.5 to 8 months) after surgical operation was done. These movements, which were often abnormal, included trembling and asynchronism. In 2 of these ponies, comple...
