Parenteral nutrition for horses with gastrointestinal disease: a retrospective study of 79 cases.
Abstract: Parenteral nutrition is advocated for sick foals and horses, although there is no report which has critically evaluated its benefits in this species. Therefore, the hypothesis that parenteral nutrition (PN) is beneficial for horses with severe gastrointestinal disease was investigated in a retrospective study. Records from 79 treatment courses in horses with gastrointestinal disease were reviewed for the years 1992-2000. The fatality rate (48.1%) was attributed to the severity of the primary disease. Complications due to PN were recorded and hyperglycaemia was the most common complication associated with PN. The number of laparatomies, proportion of horses that received lipid emulsion and the daily cost were higher in nonsurvivors than in survivors. The length of PN course was longer in survivors, although glucose peak was observed later in nonsurvivors after initiation of PN. The content of vitamins in PN solution and plasma protein at the beginning of PN were higher for survivors, while the volume of plasma administered was significantly larger in nonsurvivors. In horses with inflammatory diseases, the rate of glucose infusion and the amount of vitamins administered were higher than in horses with nonstrangulated obstruction. The proportion of horses that received lipid emulsion was higher among those with nonstrangulated and strangulated obstruction than in the group with inflammatory conditions. Because of the diverse group of diseases and the variability in the clinical signs, evaluating the effect of PN on disease outcome was not possible. A prospective study to compare horses with similar clinical conditions treated and not treated with PN is needed to evaluate fully the benefits of PN, and to establish guidelines for patient selection for PN.
Publication Date: 2002-07-11 PubMed ID: 12108742DOI: 10.2746/042516402776186083Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article explores the benefits of parenteral nutrition (PN) in treating horses suffering from severe gastrointestinal disease. It is a retrospective study investigating the outcome and complications of 79 treatment courses, unable to conclusively establish the effect of PN due to the diverse range of diseases and variable clinical signs.
Objective of the Study
- The study aimed to investigate the hypothesis that parenteral nutrition (PN) is beneficial for horses with severe gastrointestinal diseases. The researchers delved into the archival records spanning from 1992 to 2000, to examine the results and complications derived from 79 treatment courses.
Key Findings
- Out of the 79 horses, the fatality rate came out to be 48.1%, a percentage which was attributed to the severity of the primary disease rather than the PN itself.
- The study found that hyperglycemia is the most common complication related to PN administration.
- The study highlighted interesting facts, such as nonsurvivors received more lipid emulsion and had a higher daily cost and more laparotomies as compared to survivors.
- It was observed that the duration of PN course was extended for surviving horses, while nonsurvivors exhibited a late glucose peak after initiating the treatment.
- Higher vitamin content in PN solution and higher plasma protein at the start were observed in survivors as compared to nonsurvivors who had a significantly larger volume of administered plasma.
Comparison Between Different Disease Groups
- Among horses with inflammatory diseases, the rate of glucose infusion and the amount of administered vitamins were higher than in horses with nonstrangulated obstruction.
- The proportion of horses receiving lipid emulsion was notably higher in the group with nonstrangulated and strangulated obstruction compared to those with inflammatory diseases.
Conclusions
- Due to the different types of diseases and varying clinical symptoms, a definitive conclusion on the direct impact of PN on the disease outcome could not be reached.
- The study concludes by highlighting the necessity of a prospective study that compares horses with similar clinical conditions, with and without PN treatment, to thoroughly evaluate the efficacy of PN and establish selection guidelines for patients.
Cite This Article
APA
Lopes MA, White NA.
(2002).
Parenteral nutrition for horses with gastrointestinal disease: a retrospective study of 79 cases.
Equine Vet J, 34(3), 250-257.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516402776186083 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Leesburg 20177, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Cost-Benefit Analysis
- Female
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / therapy
- Gastrointestinal Diseases / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Hyperglycemia / etiology
- Intestinal Obstruction / surgery
- Intestinal Obstruction / therapy
- Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
- Lipids / administration & dosage
- Male
- Parenteral Nutrition / adverse effects
- Parenteral Nutrition / economics
- Parenteral Nutrition / veterinary
- Patient Selection
- Retrospective Studies
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
- Veterinary Medicine / methods
Citations
This article has been cited 6 times.- Filippo PAD, Duarte BR, Albernaz AP, Quirino CR. Effects of feed deprivation on physical and blood parameters of horses.. Braz J Vet Med 2021;43:e000321.
- Lawson AL, Sherlock CE, Ireland JL, Mair TS. Equine nutrition in the post-operative colic: Survey of Diplomates of the American Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Veterinary Surgeons, and European Colleges of Equine Internal Medicine and Veterinary Surgeons.. Equine Vet J 2021 Sep;53(5):1015-1024.
- Luethy D, Stefanovski D, Sweeney RW. Refeeding syndrome in small ruminants receiving parenteral nutrition.. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Jul;34(4):1674-1679.
- Clore ER, Freeman LM, Bedenice D, Buffington CA, Anderson DE. Retrospective evaluation of parenteral nutrition in alpacas: 22 cases (2002-2008).. J Vet Intern Med 2011 May-Jun;25(3):598-604.
- Edner AH, Nyman GC, Essén-Gustavsson B. Metabolism before, during and after anaesthesia in colic and healthy horses.. Acta Vet Scand 2007 Nov 15;49(1):34.
- Cruz AM, Coté N, McDonell WN, Geor RJ, Wilson BA, Monteith G, Li R. Postoperative effects of anesthesia and surgery on resting energy expenditure in horses as measured by indirect calorimetry.. Can J Vet Res 2006 Oct;70(4):257-62.
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