Parenteral nutrition in foals: a retrospective study of 45 cases (2000–2004).
Abstract: Adequate nutritional support of sick foals in critical care is an important aspect of treatment. When enteral feeding is contraindicated, parenteral nutrition (PN) provides a source of energy and protein. However, no study has critically assessed the use of PN in a large group of foals. Objective: The administration of PN to clinically ill foals was examined retrospectively to determine the effects of PN formulation and variables on the incidence of PN-associated complications and outcome. Objective: There was no effect of PN formula on 1) the occurrence or type of complications; 2) of PN formula on outcome; 3) of disease severity on the occurrence or type of complications; and 4) of disease severity on outcome. Methods: Medical records of 45 foals, presented to the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, which received PN, were reviewed for the years 2000-2004. Results: The indications for PN were recumbency, depression or gastrointestinal conditions. Formulation of PN was not associated with the development of complications, and there was no association of PN formula with patient survival. Disease severity was positively associated with the development of PN complications and the occurrence of PN complications was associated with an increased risk of nonsurvival. Conclusions: The use of lipid-containing PN solutions facilitates the delivery of energy to the critically-ill foal without increasing the risk of deleterious side effects. Severely ill foals are more prone to develop complications associated with PN and to have a poor outcome.
Publication Date: 2007-01-19 PubMed ID: 17228600DOI: 10.2746/042516407x153039Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article discusses the impact of parenteral nutrition on sick foals (young horses) under critical care, as studied through a retrospective examination of 45 cases between 2000 and 2004. The study discovered that the severity of the disease, not the formula of the parenteral nutrition, affects the occurrence of complications and the overall patient survival outcome.
Objective and Methodology
- The study aimed to retrospectively investigate: the effects of different parenteral nutrition (PN) formulas on foals, the effect of these formulas on the incidence of related complications, and the impact on the outcome of the treatment.
- To conduct this study, 45 medical cases of foals, all of whom received PN, from the Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center were reviewed. The time range for these cases spanned from 2000 to 2004.
Indications for PN and Findings
- PN was administered in cases where foals exhibited symptoms such as recumbency (inability to stand), depression or gastrointestinal issues.
- The study found no significant correlation between the PN formulation and the development of complications or the link between the PN formula and patient survival.
Association of Disease Severity and PN Complications
- The research discovered a notable correlation between the severity of the disease condition and the emergence of PN-associated complications.
- Foals with severe disease were more likely to develop complications related to PN. Furthermore, if such complications arose, it resulted in increased risk of non-survival in these patients.
Conclusion
- The research validated the use of lipid-containing PN solutions in delivering sufficient energy to a critically-ill foal. At the same time, this approach does not increase the risk of harmful side effects.
- However, foals with severe illness are more prone to develop complications associated with PN and had comparatively poor treatment outcomes.
Cite This Article
APA
Krause JB, McKenzie HC.
(2007).
Parenteral nutrition in foals: a retrospective study of 45 cases (2000–2004).
Equine Vet J, 39(1), 74-78.
https://doi.org/10.2746/042516407x153039 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Marion duPont Scott Equine Medical Center, VMRCVM, VPI and SU, PO Box 1938, Leesburg, Virginia 20176, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Colic / therapy
- Colic / veterinary
- Critical Illness
- Enterocolitis / therapy
- Enterocolitis / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / therapy
- Horses
- Male
- Parenteral Nutrition / adverse effects
- Parenteral Nutrition / methods
- Parenteral Nutrition / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Severity of Illness Index
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Daradics Z, Crecan CM, Rus MA, Morar IA, Mircean MV, Cătoi AF, Cecan AD, Cătoi C. Obesity-Related Metabolic Dysfunction in Dairy Cows and Horses: Comparison to Human Metabolic Syndrome. Life (Basel) 2021 Dec 16;11(12).
- Luethy D, Stefanovski D, Sweeney RW. Refeeding syndrome in small ruminants receiving parenteral nutrition. J Vet Intern Med 2020 Jul;34(4):1674-1679.
- Barr B. Nutritional management of the foal with diarrhoea. Equine Vet Educ 2018 Feb;30(2):100-105.
- 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.
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