Topic:Survival Rate
The survival rate in horses refers to the proportion of horses that continue to live following a specific event, condition, or treatment. This metric is often used in veterinary studies to assess the outcomes of various medical interventions, diseases, or surgical procedures. Survival rates can provide valuable insights into the effectiveness of treatments, the progression of diseases, and the overall health management of equine populations. Factors influencing survival rates may include the horse's age, breed, underlying health conditions, and the timeliness and appropriateness of medical care. This page aggregates peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the determinants, methodologies, and implications of survival rates in equine health management.
Absence of effects from immunocontraception on seasonal birth patterns and foal survival among barrier island wild horses. Despite a large body of safety data, concern exists that porcine zonae pellucidae (PZP) immunocontraception--used to manage wild horse populations--may cause out-of-season births with resulting foal mortality. Our study at Assateague, Maryland indicated the effects of immunocontraception on season of birth and foal survival between 1990 and 2002 on wild horses from Assateague Island. Among 91 mares never treated, 69 (75.8%) of foals were born in April, May, and June (in season). Among 77 treated mares, 50 (64.9%) were born in season. Of 29 mares foaling within 1 year after treatment (contracep...
Mechanical ventilation in foals with botulism: 9 cases (1989-2002). "Shaker foal" disease, toxicoinfectious botulism of foals, was 1st described as a clinical entity in 1967. The reported mortality rate was 90%, with death occurring within 24-72 hours of the onset of the characteristic clinical signs. The mortality rate decreased when equine-origin botulism antitoxin became available; however, a certain percentage of foals continued to die of respiratory failure. Mechanical ventilation is an important part of the treatment of infant botulism and is essential to the survival of many affected infants. We report a retrospective study of 9 foals with toxicoinfecti...
Prognosis in equine medical and surgical colic. A retrospective study was performed on 649 horses admitted to the Clinic of Equine Internal Medicine (Utrecht University) for gastrointestinal colic. The aim of this study was to provide a better guideline for determining prognosis in horses with colic. Short- and long-term survival were evaluated, and Cox regression analysis was performed to identify the clinical and clinicopathologic variables usable to predict survival. Intestinal displacements and strangulations were the most frequently diagnosed causes of colic. Regarding the surgically treated horses, 54% were discharged and 88% of these...
Dystocia in a referral hospital setting: approach and results. Dystocia in the mare is an emergency in which duration has a profound effect on survival of the foal. Specific examination of the effects of dystocia duration on foal survival provides information to enable horse care personnel and veterinarians to manage these cases more effectively and maximise the chances of obtaining a live foal. Objective: Dystocia duration would have a negative impact on foal survival while method of dystocia resolution would not have an effect on foal survival. Additionally, we were interested in determining the effects of dystocia on subsequent fertility. Results: In t...
Evaluation of three ancillary treatments in the management of equine grass sickness. Brotizolam, acetylcysteine and aloe vera gel were evaluated as ancillary treatments for 29 cases of equine grass sickness. None of the treatments had any significant beneficial effect on the survival of the horses. However, 11 of 13 horses with mild chronic grass sickness survived solely with intensive nursing care.
Survival rates for horses undergoing stapled small intestinal anastomosis: 84 cases (1988-1997). To determine whether location and type of small intestinal anastomosis and other variables were associated with short- and long-term survival rates in horses undergoing stapled small intestinal anastomosis. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 84 horses that underwent small intestinal anastomosis. Methods: Medical records from 1988 to 1997 were examined for horses that underwent stapled small intestinal anastomosis. Horses were allotted into 4 groups: jejunojejunostomy (n = 27), jejunoileostomy (11), jejunoileocecostomy with small intestinal resection (20), and jejunoileocecostomy without sm...
Colic surgery in 206 juvenile thoroughbreds: survival and racing results. The purpose of our study was to determine the types of lesions that cause colic in juvenile Thoroughbreds, factors associated with these lesions and the subsequent survival and athletic performance of the juveniles. The age of juvenile Thoroughbreds requiring surgical exploration for abdominal pain has an influence on the type of lesion causing colic. The short-term survival rate (discharge from the hospital) after colic surgery for foals was 85% and was strongly influenced by the lesion causing colic. Thirteen percent of juveniles recovered from the first surgery experienced another severe co...
Evaluation of risk factors associated with clinical improvement and survival of horses with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis. To investigate risk factors for use in predicting clinical improvement and survival of horses with equine protozoal myeloencephalitis (EPM). Methods: Longitudinal epidemiologic study. Methods: 251 horses with EPM. Methods: Between 1992 and 1995, 251 horses with EPM were admitted to our facility. A diagnosis of EPM was made on the basis of neurologic abnormalities and detection of antibody to Sarcocystis neurona or S neurona DNA in CSF. Data were obtained from hospital records and through telephone follow-up interviews. Factors associated with clinical improvement and survival were analyzed, us...
Effect of eastern equine encephalomyelitis virus on the survival of Aedes albopictus, Anopheles quadrimaculatus, and Coquillettidia perturbans (Diptera: Culicidae). The effect of eastern equine encephalomyelitis (EEE) virus on the survivorship of Aedes albopictus (Skuse), Anopheles quadrimaculatus Say, and Coquillettidia perturbans (Walker) was determined experimentally. Female mosquitoes were allowed to feed on EEE viremic chicks, and survival rates were compared for infected and uninfected mosquitoes. Additionally, the survival of female Cq. perturbans and An. quadrimaculatus intrathoracically (i.t.) inoculated with EEE was compared with controls receiving diluent inoculations. Infection with EEE significantly reduced survival in Cq. perturbans compared...
Mesenteric rents as a source of small intestinal strangulation in horses: 15 cases (1990-1997). To describe the clinical findings in horses with small intestinal strangulation through mesenteric rents, and to determine the recurrence and survival rates after surgery. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 15 horses with small intestinal obstruction via a mesenteric rent. Methods: Medical records of horses with obstruction of the small intestine via a mesenteric rent between January 1990 and December 1997 were reviewed. The signalment, history, initial physical examination findings, results of abdominocentesis, and clinical laboratory values were recorded. Surgical findings, including loc...
Caesarean section and other methods for assisted delivery: comparison of effects on mare mortality and complications. Data from 116 mares that had caesarean section or vaginal delivery at 2 university hospitals were analysed in 5 groups, as follows: dystocia corrected by caesarean section, Group DCS (n = 48); elective caesarean section, Group ECS (n = 10); caesarean section concurrently with colic surgery, Group CCS (n = 8); assisted vaginal delivery, Group AVD (n = 22); and controlled vaginal delivery under general anaesthesia, Group CVD (n = 28). Survival rate in all mares that had caesarean section, excluding Group CCS, was 88% (51/58). All mares in Group ECS survived and Group CCS had the lowest survival ...
Reliability of using results of abdominal fluid analysis to determine treatment and predict lesion type and outcome for horses with colic: 218 cases (1991-1994). To assess clinical utility of abdominal fluid analysis in predicting outcome, lesion type, and whether medical or surgical treatment is indicated for horses with colic. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 218 horses > 1 year old. Methods: Horses were classified on the basis of age, site of lesion, lesion type (nonstrangulating vs strangulating), type of treatment (medical vs surgical), and outcome (survival vs nonsurvival). Sensitivity and specificity of using age and results of abdominal fluid analysis, individually and in combination, to predict lesion type, type of treatment, and outc...
Associations between physical examination, laboratory, and radiographic findings and outcome and subsequent racing performance of foals with Rhodococcus equi infection: 115 cases (1984-1992). To determine whether physical examination, laboratory, or radiographic abnormalities in foals with Rhodococcus equi infection were associated with survival, ability to race at least once after recovery, or, for foals that survived and went on to race, subsequent racing performance. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 49 Thoroughbreds and 66 Standardbreds admitted to 1 of 6 veterinary teaching hospitals between 1984 and 1992 in which R equi infection was positively diagnosed. Methods: Results of physical examination, laboratory testing, and thoracic radiography were reviewed. Indices of raci...
Factors associated with survival in septicemic foals: 65 cases (1988-1995). In order to identify variables obtained at admission that could be used to predict survival in septicemic foals, medical records of 65 foals diagnosed with septicemia were reviewed. Initially, variables were analyzed independently (univariate analysis) for association with survival. Of the physical examination and historical data examined using univariate analysis, the ability to stand at admission, respiratory rate > or = 60 breaths per minute (bpm), and normal-appearing mucous membranes were significantly associated with survival. Foals with history of induced parturition were significant...
Evaluation of exploratory laparotomy in young horses: 102 cases (1987-1992). To determine, in a population of young horses, whether a variation exists among neonates, sucklings, weanlings, and yearlings regarding recovery from anesthesia, short- and long-term survival rates, and postoperative adhesion formation following exploratory laparotomy. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 102 horses < 25 months old that underwent exploratory laparotomy. Methods: Pre-, intra-, and postoperative information was retrieved from medical records, conversations with referring veterinarians, owners, or trainers, and race records. Survival rates (recovery from anesthesia and short- a...
Ovariectomy of granulosa cell tumors in mares by use of the diagonal paramedian approach: 12 cases (1989-1995). To describe the short- and long-term survival rates in horses undergoing ovariectomy for granulosa cell tumors by use of the diagonal paramedian approach. Methods: Retrospective case study. Methods: 12 horses with granulosa cell tumors. Methods: A diagonal paramedian approach for unilateral ovariectomy was used for removal of each mare's granulosa cell tumor. Information about complications and outcomes was analyzed. Results: Only minimal complications were detected postoperatively when the diagonal paramedian approach was used, regardless of the preferred technique for ovarian pedicle ligatio...
Survival of mycoplasmas inoculated in horse sera. Although it is known that commercialized bovine serum is sometimes contaminated with mycoplasmas, it is not clear whether mycoplasmas can survive in horse serum. In this study, as a preliminary examination of the survival of mycoplasmas inoculated in horse sera, the survivability of 8 strains of 7 mycoplasmas was tested. The results obtained reveal that two strains of M. bovis and M. gallisepticum were found to survive in non-heated and inactivated sera for 94 to 330 days at 30 or 37 degrees C. Three strains of M. bovirhinis, M. gateae and A. laidlawii lived for 7 to 330 days depending upon th...
[Differentiated prognosis in the colicky horse]. In a retrospective study on 271 horses with colic the prediction about the outcome of the disease was made by a discriminating analysis. The best combination of quantitative prognostic parameters was capillary refill time, hematocrit, lactate and anion gap, with 90% correct predictions. In comparison with individually prognostic parameters, the combined prognosis constantly reached a higher percentage of correct predictions, the exact value resulting in 89%. Moreover, survival was better predictable than death.
[Determination of the survival of Trypanosoma evansi in equine blood, using the microhematocrit method]. The microhaematocrit (MH) technique was used to study the survival of Trypanosoma evansi in blood from two herds of naturally-infected horses. A comparison was made between samples treated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid and sodium citrate (alone or with 1% glucose), and sent to the laboratory packed in ice. In general, the number of samples yielding positive results by the MH technique showed the least variation during the first 24-36 h after sample collection. Survival varied with the anticoagulant used, but it declined rapidly from 48 h after collection, although live parasites were st...
Intravascular and peritoneal coagulation and fibrinolysis in horses with acute gastrointestinal tract diseases. Components of the coagulation and fibrinolytic cascades, prothrombin and activated partial thromboplastin times, endotoxin activity, and albumin concentration were measured in blood and peritoneal fluid from 20 healthy horses and from 153 horses with acute gastrointestinal tract diseases at admission. Overall, 77% (117/153) of affected horses survived to discharge from the hospital, and 85% (82/97) of horses discharged were reported to be normal 9 to 14 months later. Significant differences in hemostatic factors were more common in peritoneal fluid than in blood. Tissue plasminogen activator, ...
Iridium-192 interstitial brachytherapy for equine periocular tumours: treatment results and prognostic factors in 115 horses. One hundred and fifteen horses with periocular tumours were treated with iridium-192 interstitial brachytherapy. Tumours included squamous cell carcinomas (n = 52) and sarcoids (n = 63). All horses were scheduled to receive 60 Gy (minimal tumour dose) given at a low dose rate (0.034 +/- 0.010 Gy/h). The mean and median follow-up times to last contact or death were 24 and 16 months, respectively. Chronic radiation reactions included palpebral fibrosis (10.4%), cataract (7.8%), keratitis and corneal ulceration (6.9%). Cosmetic changes included permanent epilation (21.7%) and hair dyspigmentation...
Intraperitoneal use of sodium carboxymethylcellulose in horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy. The effect of intraperitoneal sodium carboxymethylcellulose (SCMC) administration on clinical outcome and survival was evaluated in horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy for acute gastrointestinal disease. Comparison of variables was made retrospectively between 44 horses that had SCMC and 92 horses (controls) not treated with SCMC. Mean age, body weight, heart rate, packed cell volume and plasma total protein of horses at admission, and convalescent period were not significantly different between control and SCMC groups. No significant differences were noted between control horses and SCMC ...
Use of clinical measurements to predict the outcome in chronic cases of grass sickness (equine dysautonomia). Forty-five cases of chronic grass sickness were given scores for selected clinical measurements when they were first examined, to assess their value in predicting survival. Sixteen cases survived. The clinical scores for the degree of dysphagia, appetite, colic and the degree of reduction in gut sounds were significantly lower in the survivors than in the non-survivors. In addition, only the non-survivors had severe rhinitis. Ponies were significantly less likely to survive than cob types.
Retrospective analysis of the results of 151 exploratory laparotomies in horses with gastrointestinal disease. Of 149 horses that underwent 151 exploratory laparotomies for gastrointestinal disorders from September 1987 to May 1991, 107 (72%) were discharged from the hospital: 100 (66%) survived for > 7 months, 94 of which returned to their intended use. Survival rate (64/80) for horses with caecum/large colon obstruction was significantly (P = 0.003) higher than for horses with small intestinal obstruction (33/64). Prolonged surgery was associated with significantly (P < 0.001) lower survival rates than short surgical time. In the large intestine, survival rate (15/29) for strangulated obstructions wa...
A retrospective study of 192 horses affected with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis. The medical records of 192 horses with septic arthritis/tenosynovitis 1979-1989 were reviewed. Forty-three horses developed infection after an intra-articular injection, 46 following a penetrating wound, 25 following surgery, 66 were foals less than 6 months old, and 12 were adult horses without a known aetiology. Haematogenous infection of a joint occurs in adult horses and should be considered as a differential diagnosis in horses with an acute onset of severe lameness. The aetiology of the infection had a significant effect on the type of bacteria identified by culture. Staphylococcus was c...
Prognostic variables for survival of neonatal foals under intensive care. The costly nature of intensive care for neonatal foals prompted a study of predictive variables for survival in a referral hospital. Applying stepforward logistic regression to parameters that differed significantly (P less than 0.10) between survivors (S) and nonsurvivors (NS) in a retrospective study (n = 56), two variables retained statistical significance [anion gap (AG, P = 0.0047) and venous PO2 (PvO2, P = 0.0342)], thus forming the basis for a predictive equation for survival: the Pn (probability of NS) = eA/(1 + eA) where A = -1.46 - 0.107 (PvO2) + 0.213 (AG). The predictive equation w...
Equine coxofemoral luxations: 17 cases (1975-1990). The medical records of 17 horses with coxofemoral luxation were examined. Ponies and miniature horses were overrepresented. The mean age at the time of diagnosis was 7 years (range 1 month to 25 years). Seventy percent were female. Severe trauma, such as a fall or being kicked by another horse, was a common etiology. Thirty-five percent had other orthopedic injuries associated with the luxation. Closed reduction, with the use of a mechanically assisted calving device, was attained in 5 cases but reluxation occurred shortly afterward in 4 of these. Varying surgical techniques were used in 3 cas...
Renosplenic entrapment of the large colon in horses: 33 cases (1984-1989). Between 1984 and 1989, 33 horses were diagnosed with renosplenic entrapment of the large colon. Duration of colic, signalment, physical findings, and laboratory values were determined, and treatment methods were evaluated. Nonsurgical correction was attempted in 22 of the horses with suspected renosplenic entrapment of the large colon and was successful in 11 cases. Survival and complication rates also were determined. Nonsurgical correction is a viable alternative to immediate surgery for renosplenic entrapment of the large colon, if cases are selected properly.
Water homeostasis in desert-dwelling horses. This study set out to investigate tolerance of the body water pool to short-term water deprivation in horses and, in particular, to assess whether feral horses from the Namib Desert showed tolerance to dehydration superior to Transvaal. Hydration status was compared in six feral horses from the Namib Desert and in six Boerperd farm horses under conditions of normal hydration and after 72 h of dehydration. Under normal hydration, the two groups did not differ significantly in water intake, plasma sodium and potassium concentrations, plasma osmolality, hematocrit, total plasma protein, body wate...
Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial isolates from horses with pneumonia or pleuropneumonia and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the aerobes. Frequency of aerobic and anaerobic isolates in 327 aspirates and in 123 pleural fluid samples from 327 horses with pneumonia or pleuropneumonia and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the aerobes were reported. Of the 327 horses, 75% survived, 20% were euthanatized, and 5% died. Tracheobronchial aspirates or pleural fluid specimens from 25 of the horses did not yield growth. Of the remaining 302 horses, 221 had only aerobic organisms isolated, whereas only anaerobes were isolated from 6 of the 302 horses. The remaining 75 horses had mixed aerobic and anaerobic bacterial infections. The su...