Peritoneal lavage in the horse.

This research aims to explore the effectiveness of using peritoneal lavage as a treatment for peritonitis in horses. Using a sample of eight horses infected with the disease, it attempts to establish treatment protocols, primarily focusing on the use of Ringer’s lactate solution along with various medications.

Study Methodology

The research involved eight horses aged between 4 days and 9 years, all of which were diagnosed with peritonitis. The causative agents behind the peritonitis were isolated, which in this case included Escherichia coli in four horses and a Nocardia species in one horse. Each horse then underwent a procedure in which a catheter was inserted into the peritoneal cavity – the space inside the abdomen that contains the intestines, stomach, and liver.

• Horses were treated using peritoneal lavage, a process where the peritoneal cavity is washed or irrigated with a solution.
• Retrograde peritoneal lavage was performed, which suggests the lavage was done in a way that goes against the normal flow or direction of the body.
• The solution used in the treatment was Ringer’s lactate, commonly used as an electrolyte-balancing solution, along with medications such as kanamycin (an antibiotic), povidone iodine (an antiseptic), or nitrofurazone (an antimicrobial).

Study Results

The effectiveness of the treatment was monitored based on horses’ response to the peritoneal lavage process.

• Results showed that all except two of the horses responded positively to the lavage procedure, indicating a significant rate of improvement.
• The peritoneal lavage procedure allowed a large quantity of purulent, or infected, fluid to be drained.
• Further details on improvement, like overall health, recovery time or reduction in symptoms would provide more clarity on the effectiveness of the peritoneal lavage treatment. However, these details are not provided in the abstract.

In overall, while the sample size of the study is small, the abstract suggests that peritoneal lavage may be an effective treatment for horses diagnosed with peritonitis.