Preoperative care in horses involves a series of assessments and interventions conducted before surgical procedures to optimize the animal's health and improve surgical outcomes. This process typically includes a thorough physical examination, evaluation of the horse's medical history, and necessary diagnostic tests such as blood work and imaging. Preoperative care also encompasses nutritional management, hydration status, and the administration of medications, such as antibiotics or analgesics, as needed. Additionally, it involves planning for anesthesia and addressing any specific health concerns that may affect the surgery or recovery. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the methods, practices, and implications of preoperative care in equine veterinary medicine.
Taylor CJ, Peter VG, Coleridge MOD, Bathe AP.Fracture configuration is often more complex than is radiographically appreciable. The objective of this study is to describe the influence of pre-operative computed tomography (CT) for surgical planning in a variety of fracture types. This has not been described in previous studies. All cases with pre-operative radiographs, admitted for CT and surgical repair of a suspected limb fracture from January 2010-December 2020 were reviewed. CT was acquired under general anaesthesia in a multi-slice helical scanner; any surgery was then performed immediately. Three diplomates (two surgical; one diagn...
Galloway SS, Earley ET.Oral extraction has become the most popular extraction technique owing to its high rate of success with minimal major complication. Repulsion continues to produce unacceptably high iatrogenic complication rates. To avoid tooth repulsion, veterinary dentists have introduced procedures to facilitate difficult intraoral extractions and surgical extraction techniques. Minimizing complications is best achieved preoperatively. A comprehensive preoperative evaluation and treatment plan allows the dentist to predict intraoperative complication and prepare for procedures to produce the best outcome. Wi...
Davids BI, Davidson MJ, TenBroeck SH, Colahan PT, Oli MW.To compare the efficacy of sterile preoperative skin antisepsis using either a 5-minute mechanical preparation or 5-minute non-mechanical preparation with chlorhexidine gluconate 4% solution. Methods: Matched design, ANOVA. Methods: Healthy adult Thoroughbred horses (n = 30). Methods: Each horse had both surgical preparation methods randomly assigned to identical sites on the left or right upper thigh. Prepared sites were sampled and cultured for bacteria after each preparation step. Results: Mechanical and non-mechanical preparation techniques significantly reduced bacteria isolated from ...
McKenzie EC, Di Concetto S, Payton ME, Mandsager RE, Arko M.To determine the effect of dantrolene premedication on various cardiovascular and biochemical variables and recovery in isoflurane-anesthetized horses. Methods: 6 healthy horses. Methods: Each horse was anesthetized twice with a 21- to 28-day washout period between anesthetic sessions. Food was not withheld from horses before either session. During each session, dantrolene (6 mg/kg in 2 L of water) or water (2 L) was administered via a nasogastric tube 1 hour before anesthesia was induced. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane for 90 minutes, during which blood gas analyses and lithium-dil...
Gasiorowski JC, Richardson DW.To describe clinical use of computed tomography (CT) and hoof surface markers to facilitate internal fixation within the confines of the hoof wall. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses (n = 16) that had CT-guided internal fixation of the distal phalanx (DP) or distal sesamoid bone (DSB). Methods: Drill bit entry point and direction were planned from CT image series performed on hooves with grids of barium paste dots at proposed entry and projected exit sites. Post-implantation CT images were obtained to check screw position and length as well as fracture reduction. Imaging, ...
Puchalski SM.Advances in equine computed tomography have been made as a result of improvements in software and hardware and an increasing body of knowledge. Contrast media can be administered intravascularly or intrathecally. Contrast media is useful to differentiate between tissues of similar density. Equine computed tomography can be used for many different clinical conditions, including lameness diagnosis, fracture identification and characterization, preoperative planning, and characterization of skull diseases.
Hallowell GD, Corley KT.Hypertonic saline and hydroxyethyl starches have been proposed as alternatives to isotonic crystalloids for reversal of hypovolemia in horses with colic. However, no direct comparison of these fluids has been performed in a clinical setting. Objective: Preoperative administration of hypertonic saline or pentastarch would produce similar effects on intra operative hemodynamics in horses with colic. Methods: Thirty horses requiring colic surgery were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, open-label clinical trial. Inclusion criteria were owner consent, and at least 2 of 3 clinicopathologic a...
Cornick-Seahorn J.There is a plethora of information regarding anesthetic management of horses; however, controlled studies of the critically ill equine patient are few. These patients should be managed like any equine anesthetic candidate but much more stringently:I. Preoperative evaluation and appropriate therapy may represent the difference between life and death during the intraoperative and recovery periods. 2. The anesthetic induction and maintenance protocol should be based on the individual situation of the veterinary facility and personnel("comfort zone"). 3. Appropriate monitoring and intraoperative s...
Taylor PM, Bennett RC, Brearley JC, Luna SP, Johnson CB.To compare detomidine hydrochloride and romifidine as premedicants in horses undergoing elective surgery. Methods: 100 client-owned horses. Methods: After administration of acepromazine (0.03 mg/kg, IV), 50 horses received detomidine hydrochloride (0.02 mg/kg of body weight, IV) and 50 received romifidine (0.1 mg/kg, IV) before induction and maintenance of anesthesia with ketamine hydrochloride (2 mg/kg) and halothane, respectively. Arterial blood pressure and blood gases, ECG, and heart and respiratory rates were recorded. Induction and recovery were timed and graded. Results: Mean (+/- SD) d...
Lillich JD.Both retrospective data and clinical experience indicate that complications of dental surgery are occasionally encountered and, to some extent, are inevitable. Many of the reported complications related to dental surgery such as incomplete removal of diseased teeth or removal of the wrong tooth can be avoided with sound preoperative planning and intraoperative technique. Diseased teeth should be properly identified prior to and during surgery. In addition, complete removal of the diseased tooth must be performed. Use of intraoperative radiographic examination to confirm the location of the dis...
Toews AR, Campbell JR.To assess the value of CBC as a preoperative test in healthy horses undergoing cryptorchidectomy. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 117 horses. Methods: Medical records were reviewed to identify horses that had had cryptorchidectomy. Of the 117 horses identified, 102 were found that did not have a known medical condition believed to adversely affect surgery. Preoperative CBC was assessed in terms of abnormalities detected and effects of these abnormalities on development of complications during and after surgery and patient management. Results: Of 102 CBC performed, 55 contained abnormali...
Smith DF.The pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation and medical management of the horse with intestinal obstruction is outlined. Emphasis is on early and accurate determination of the need for surgery and on providing optimal preoperative medical support.
Puchalski SM.Advances in equine computed tomography have been made as a result of improvements in software and hardware and an increasing body of knowledge. Contrast media can be administered intravascularly or intrathecally. Contrast media is useful to differentiate between tissues of similar density. Equine computed tomography can be used for many different clinical conditions, including lameness diagnosis, fracture identification and characterization, preoperative planning, and characterization of skull diseases.
Taylor PM, Bennett RC, Brearley JC, Luna SP, Johnson CB.To compare detomidine hydrochloride and romifidine as premedicants in horses undergoing elective surgery. Methods: 100 client-owned horses. Methods: After administration of acepromazine (0.03 mg/kg, IV), 50 horses received detomidine hydrochloride (0.02 mg/kg of body weight, IV) and 50 received romifidine (0.1 mg/kg, IV) before induction and maintenance of anesthesia with ketamine hydrochloride (2 mg/kg) and halothane, respectively. Arterial blood pressure and blood gases, ECG, and heart and respiratory rates were recorded. Induction and recovery were timed and graded. Results: Mean (+/- SD) d...
McKenzie EC, Di Concetto S, Payton ME, Mandsager RE, Arko M.To determine the effect of dantrolene premedication on various cardiovascular and biochemical variables and recovery in isoflurane-anesthetized horses. Methods: 6 healthy horses. Methods: Each horse was anesthetized twice with a 21- to 28-day washout period between anesthetic sessions. Food was not withheld from horses before either session. During each session, dantrolene (6 mg/kg in 2 L of water) or water (2 L) was administered via a nasogastric tube 1 hour before anesthesia was induced. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane for 90 minutes, during which blood gas analyses and lithium-dil...
Cornick-Seahorn J.There is a plethora of information regarding anesthetic management of horses; however, controlled studies of the critically ill equine patient are few. These patients should be managed like any equine anesthetic candidate but much more stringently:I. Preoperative evaluation and appropriate therapy may represent the difference between life and death during the intraoperative and recovery periods. 2. The anesthetic induction and maintenance protocol should be based on the individual situation of the veterinary facility and personnel("comfort zone"). 3. Appropriate monitoring and intraoperative s...
Davids BI, Davidson MJ, TenBroeck SH, Colahan PT, Oli MW.To compare the efficacy of sterile preoperative skin antisepsis using either a 5-minute mechanical preparation or 5-minute non-mechanical preparation with chlorhexidine gluconate 4% solution. Methods: Matched design, ANOVA. Methods: Healthy adult Thoroughbred horses (n = 30). Methods: Each horse had both surgical preparation methods randomly assigned to identical sites on the left or right upper thigh. Prepared sites were sampled and cultured for bacteria after each preparation step. Results: Mechanical and non-mechanical preparation techniques significantly reduced bacteria isolated from ...
Toews AR, Campbell JR.To assess the value of CBC as a preoperative test in healthy horses undergoing cryptorchidectomy. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 117 horses. Methods: Medical records were reviewed to identify horses that had had cryptorchidectomy. Of the 117 horses identified, 102 were found that did not have a known medical condition believed to adversely affect surgery. Preoperative CBC was assessed in terms of abnormalities detected and effects of these abnormalities on development of complications during and after surgery and patient management. Results: Of 102 CBC performed, 55 contained abnormali...
Hallowell GD, Corley KT.Hypertonic saline and hydroxyethyl starches have been proposed as alternatives to isotonic crystalloids for reversal of hypovolemia in horses with colic. However, no direct comparison of these fluids has been performed in a clinical setting. Objective: Preoperative administration of hypertonic saline or pentastarch would produce similar effects on intra operative hemodynamics in horses with colic. Methods: Thirty horses requiring colic surgery were enrolled in this prospective, randomized, open-label clinical trial. Inclusion criteria were owner consent, and at least 2 of 3 clinicopathologic a...
Smith DF.The pathophysiology, diagnostic evaluation and medical management of the horse with intestinal obstruction is outlined. Emphasis is on early and accurate determination of the need for surgery and on providing optimal preoperative medical support.
Lillich JD.Both retrospective data and clinical experience indicate that complications of dental surgery are occasionally encountered and, to some extent, are inevitable. Many of the reported complications related to dental surgery such as incomplete removal of diseased teeth or removal of the wrong tooth can be avoided with sound preoperative planning and intraoperative technique. Diseased teeth should be properly identified prior to and during surgery. In addition, complete removal of the diseased tooth must be performed. Use of intraoperative radiographic examination to confirm the location of the dis...
Taylor CJ, Peter VG, Coleridge MOD, Bathe AP.Fracture configuration is often more complex than is radiographically appreciable. The objective of this study is to describe the influence of pre-operative computed tomography (CT) for surgical planning in a variety of fracture types. This has not been described in previous studies. All cases with pre-operative radiographs, admitted for CT and surgical repair of a suspected limb fracture from January 2010-December 2020 were reviewed. CT was acquired under general anaesthesia in a multi-slice helical scanner; any surgery was then performed immediately. Three diplomates (two surgical; one diagn...
Galloway SS, Earley ET.Oral extraction has become the most popular extraction technique owing to its high rate of success with minimal major complication. Repulsion continues to produce unacceptably high iatrogenic complication rates. To avoid tooth repulsion, veterinary dentists have introduced procedures to facilitate difficult intraoral extractions and surgical extraction techniques. Minimizing complications is best achieved preoperatively. A comprehensive preoperative evaluation and treatment plan allows the dentist to predict intraoperative complication and prepare for procedures to produce the best outcome. Wi...
Gasiorowski JC, Richardson DW.To describe clinical use of computed tomography (CT) and hoof surface markers to facilitate internal fixation within the confines of the hoof wall. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses (n = 16) that had CT-guided internal fixation of the distal phalanx (DP) or distal sesamoid bone (DSB). Methods: Drill bit entry point and direction were planned from CT image series performed on hooves with grids of barium paste dots at proposed entry and projected exit sites. Post-implantation CT images were obtained to check screw position and length as well as fracture reduction. Imaging, ...
