Effects of hyperbaric oxygen treatment on horses with experimentally induced endotoxemia.

This research assesses the impact and efficiency of hyperbaric oxygen treatment (HBOT) in reducing symptoms of artificially created endotoxemia in horses. The study finds that while HBOT moderately lessens the severity of endotoxemia, other associated abnormalities are not significantly improved, thereby, not strongly supporting the use of HBOT as a pre-emptive treatment for horses inundated with endotoxemia.

Research Methodology

• The study involved 18 healthy adult horses. They were split into three equal groups and were exposed to different treatments. One group was given normobaric ambient air and lipopolysaccharide (LPS), the second group received HBOT and LPS, and the third group was administered HBOT and physiological saline solution.
• Prior treatment and intermittently for six hours post the administration of LPS or physiological saline solution, horses were physically examined and blood samples were obtained for a Complete Blood Count (CBC). The concentration or activity of plasma tissue necrosis factor-α, blood lactate, and blood glucose were also determined.

Results

• All horses that were treated with LPS exhibited signs and hematologic changes consistent with endotoxemia.
• The use of HBOT significantly moderated the impact of LPS on clinical endotoxemia score. This indicates that HBOT had some protective effect against the severity of endotoxemia, but it did not substantially improve other endotoxemia-associated irregularities.

Conclusions

• The defensive effect of HBOT was limited, and the results of this research did not strongly advocate for the use of HBOT as a preemptive measure for horses at risk of endotoxemia.
• This implies that while HBOT can reduce the severity of endotoxemia to some extent, it is not a comprehensive solution and does not significantly rectify other abnormalities associated with the condition.