Abstract: Percutaneous decompression of the cecum is a procedure that could be considered for horses with cecal gas distension. The aim of this study was to identify complications such as peritonitis and clinically relevant peritonitis (CRP) after transabdominal cecal trocarization in healthy horses using a cattle trocar and a cecal needle. Mixed breed horses were assigned to three groups (n = 6): horses that underwent trocarization with a cecal needle (G1) or a cattle trocar (G2), and a control group (CG) without cecal trocarization. The same horses were used in each group, respecting a three-month washout period between studies. A physical examination, serial blood, and peritoneal fluid sampling were performed, prior to cecal trocarization and 2, 6 and 12 hours after the first collection and 1, 2, 3, 7, and 14 days after the procedure. Acute-phase proteins in blood and peritoneal fluid were analyzed by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Horses with a high cell count in the peritoneal fluid (i.e., 10,000 cells/μl) were considered to have peritonitis and CRP if they met at least two of the following clinical criteria: anorexia, lethargy, tachycardia, tachypnea, fever, ileus, abnormal oral mucous membrane color, abnormal white blood cells count, or high blood fibrinogen concentration (> 5 g/L). All horses recovered from cecal trocarization and abdominocentesis with no major complications. Cecal trocarization caused cytologic evidence of peritonitis in G1 and G2 during the 14 days of evaluation. CRP was not observed, although a decrease in cecal motility was observed in G1 and G2 during the experimental period and three horses, one from G1 and two from G2, showed a single moment of fever. None of the groups showed leukopenia or leukocytosis, although blood neutrophil count decreased at D7 and D14 in G1 and at D14 in G2 (p ≤ 0.05). After cecal trocarization, an increase in the total nucleated cells count, total proteins, globulins, alkaline phosphatase and acute phase proteins were observed in the peritoneal fluid of G1 and G2 during the 14 days of evaluation (p ≤ 0.05), without causing clinically relevant peritonitis. Transcutaneous cecal trocarization promotes peritonitis, which is more intense with a cattle trocar than with a cecal needle. The cecal needle should be considered for cecal trocarization of horses with cecal tympany.
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This research study evaluated the complications, particularly peritonitis, arising after a surgical procedure (cecal trocarization) on horses using a cattle trocar and a cecal needle, concluding that this procedure does cause peritonitis, which is more intense when a cattle trocar is used.
Objective and Methodology
The research aimed to identify potential complications, such as peritonitis (inflammation of the lining of the abdominal cavity), resulting from transabdominal cecal trocarization (a surgical procedure to alleviate bloating) in healthy horses using two devices: a cattle trocar and a cecal needle.
A total of 6 mixed breed horses were included in the study, divided into three groups. Two groups were assigned to undergo trocarization with either a cecal needle or cattle trocar, and the third was a control group that did not undergo the procedure.
The same horses were used in each group, with a three-month interval between studies.
Procedure and Analysis
The researchers performed a physical examination, serial blood, and peritoneal fluid sampling before the procedure and multiple times after the procedure.
The presence of peritonitis was determined if a high cell count was identified in the peritoneal fluid. Clinically Relevant Peritonitis (CRP) was determined if two or more clinical symptoms like anorexia, lethargy, tachycardia, tachypnea, fever, ileus, abnormal oral mucous membrane color, abnormal white blood cells count, or high blood fibrinogen concentration were present.
Results
All the horses recovered from the procedures. Evidence of peritonitis was visible in the horses that underwent trocarization during the 14-day evaluation period. However, no incidence of CRP was observed.
Three horses showed a single incident of fever, and decreased cecal motility was noted in the same groups that underwent trocarization.
The researchers observed an increase in total nucleated cells count, total proteins, globulins, and other acute phase proteins in the peritoneal fluid of the treated horses during the evaluation period.
Conclusion
The study concluded that cecal trocarization causes peritonitis, and the intensity of this condition is higher when a cattle trocar is used.
The researchers suggested the use of a cecal needle for cecal trocarization to help decrease the intensity of peritonitis caused by the procedure.
Cite This Article
APA
Dória RGS, Reginato GM, Hayasaka YB, Fantinato Neto P, Passarelli D, Arantes JA.
(2022).
Complications following transcutaneous cecal trocarization in horses with a cattle trocar and a cecal needle.
PLoS One, 17(11), e0277468.
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0277468
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