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Journal of veterinary internal medicine2018; 32(2); 805-814; doi: 10.1111/jvim.15057

Catheter-associated venous air embolism in hospitalized horses: 32 cases.

Abstract: Venous air embolism is a potentially life-threatening complication of IV catheter use in horses. Despite widespread anecdotal reports of their occurrence, few cases have been reported in the literature and the prognosis is currently unknown. Objective: Our objective was to describe the surrounding circumstances, clinical signs, treatment, progression, and outcome of venous air embolism in hospitalized horses. Methods: Thirty-two horses with acute onset of compatible clinical signs associated with IV catheter disconnection or damage. Methods: Multicenter retrospective study. Data extracted from clinical records included signalment, presenting complaint, catheter details, clinical signs, treatments, and outcome. Results: Most cases resulted from extension set disconnection occurring within approximately 24 hours after catheter placement. In fewer horses, extension set damage was cited as a cause. Common clinical signs included tachycardia, tachypnea, recumbency, muscle fasciculations and agitation, with abnormal behavior including kicking and flank biting. Less commonly, pathological arrhythmias or more severe neurologic signs, including blindness and seizures, were noted. Progression was unpredictable, with some affected horses developing delayed-onset neurologic signs. Mortality was 6/32 (19%), including 2 cases of sudden death and other horses euthanized because of persistent neurologic deficits. Negative outcomes were more common in horses with recorded blindness, sweating or recumbency, but blindness resolved in 5/8 affected horses. Conclusions: The prognosis for resolution of clinical signs after air embolism is fair, but permanent neurologic deficits or pathologic cardiac arrhythmias can arise. Unpredictable progression warrants close monitoring. Systematic clinic-based surveillance could provide additional useful information to aid prevention.
Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
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Publication Date: 2018-02-20 PubMed ID: 29460300PubMed Central: PMC5866986DOI: 10.1111/jvim.15057Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Multicenter Study

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research explores air embolism cases associated with IV catheter use in hospitalized horses, detailing the circumstances, symptoms, treatment, progression, and outcome.

Objective and Methodology

  • The study aims to document cases of venous air embolism; a complication from IV catheter use in horses which is believed to be common but not often reported in literature, with the prognosis still unknown.
  • The method used in this research was a retrospective study of 32 horses that showed sudden compatible clinical signs related to the disconnection or damage of their IV catheter.
  • Data extracted from the subjects’ clinical records included their characteristics, presenting complaint, details about the catheter, symptoms, treatments received, and outcome.

Results

  • Most air embolism cases were due to a disconnection of the extension set from the catheter, typically within 24 hours after placement.
  • Less common were cases related to damage to the extension set.
  • Common symptoms observed in the horses included fast heart rate, fast breathing, collapse, muscle twitching, and agitation, alongside unusual behavior such as kicking and biting themselves.
  • Less frequent were more severe symptoms such as heart arrhythmias, blindness, and seizures.
  • The progression of the condition was not predictable, with delayed-onset neurological symptoms occurring in some horses.
  • The rate of mortality was 19%, with two cases of instantaneous death and other horses euthanized due to persistent neurological deficits.
  • Negative outcomes were more common in horses with noted symptoms of blindness, sweating, or collapse, but blindness was resolved in 5 of the 8 horses displaying it.

Conclusions

  • The study concludes that while the prognosis for resolution of symptoms after an air embolism is generally good, the condition can lead to permanent neurological deficits or pathological heart arrhythmias.
  • The unpredictable progression of the disease underscores the need for close monitoring of affected horses.
  • The researchers recommend systematic surveillance at clinics, which could provide more information to aid in prevention.

Cite This Article

APA
Parkinson NJ, McKenzie HC, Barton MH, Davis JL, Dunkel B, Johnson AL, MacDonald ES. (2018). Catheter-associated venous air embolism in hospitalized horses: 32 cases. J Vet Intern Med, 32(2), 805-814. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15057

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 32
Issue: 2
Pages: 805-814

Researcher Affiliations

Parkinson, Nicholas J
  • Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia.
  • Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, United Kingdom.
McKenzie, Harold C
  • Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Barton, Michelle H
  • University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine, Athens, Georgia.
Davis, Jennifer L
  • Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Blacksburg, Virginia.
Dunkel, Bettina
  • The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom.
Johnson, Amy L
  • New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
MacDonald, Elizabeth S
  • Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, Leesburg, Virginia.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / complications
  • Arrhythmias, Cardiac / veterinary
  • Blindness / complications
  • Blindness / veterinary
  • Embolism, Air / complications
  • Embolism, Air / etiology
  • Embolism, Air / mortality
  • Embolism, Air / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases / etiology
  • Horse Diseases / mortality
  • Horses
  • Nervous System Diseases / complications
  • Nervous System Diseases / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Seizures / complications
  • Seizures / veterinary
  • Vascular Access Devices / adverse effects
  • Vascular Access Devices / veterinary

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Citations

This article has been cited 3 times.
  1. Majcher AM, Troillet A, Gerlach K, Tönnies PR, Brehm W, Ulrich R. Postmortem diagnosis of venous air embolism in a Wielkopolski horse. J Vet Diagn Invest 2025 Nov;37(6):948-951.
    doi: 10.1177/10406387251362462pubmed: 40842091google scholar: lookup
  2. Vitale V, Velloso Álvarez A, de la Cuesta-Torrado M, Neira-Egea P, Vandecandelaere M, Tee E, Gimeno M, van Galen G. Can Acute Neurological Disease Cause Cardiomyopathy in Horses?. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 16;15(10).
    doi: 10.3390/ani15101447pubmed: 40427323google scholar: lookup
  3. Hussein HA, Ibrahim A. B-mode and color Doppler ultrasonography of normal external jugular vein in donkeys (Equus asinus). BMC Vet Res 2022 Sep 14;18(1):345.
    doi: 10.1186/s12917-022-03441-ypubmed: 36104788google scholar: lookup
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