Heparin anticoagulant therapy in equine colic.

The study observes and discusses the effects of heparin anticoagulant therapy in managing colic in horses and suggests that early initiation of this therapy can significantly improve the chances of survival and recovery for equines suffering from bowel disease.

Background and Objectives

• The research investigates the efficacy of heparin anticoagulant therapy on horses suffering from colic especially those exhibiting signs of large bowel disease.
• The primary objective of this study is to understand the connection between circulating endotoxins, evidence of altered hemostasis, and the prognosis for survival in horses with colic.

Methodology and Observations

• The researchers utilized endotoxins infusion in the portal vein of the horses over a 24-hour period to stimulate large bowel disease and observed clinical signs like hoof discomfort and decreased hoof temperature.
• It was observed that horses with circulating endotoxins but without altered hemostasis had a higher chance of survival, while those with both circulating endotoxins and altered hemostasis generally had poor prognosis.
• Additionally, the signs of disease appeared within 30 minutes of the initiation of endotoxin infusion and subsided within 4 hours despite the continuation of the infusion.

Heparin Anticoagulant Therapy

• The researchers then applied long-term heparin therapy which resulted in a rapid depletion of red blood cells (RBC), but did not cause any detectable bleeding.
• The study recommends initiating heparin therapy before beginning colic surgery with the coagulation monitored using the activated partial thromboplastin time.
• Heparin was initially administered intravenously, followed by subcutaneous or intra-fat injections, and was explicitly advised against intramuscular administration.

Conclusions

• The study emphasizes the potential role of heparin in improving the survival prognosis for equines suffering from large bowel disease.
• It also proposes a structured approach to heparin therapy, including dosage and administration methods.
• Lastly, it was noted that the anticoagulative effects of heparin can be reversed using protamine sulfate, providing an additional layer of safety for its use in managing these conditions.