Post-operative management of equine abdominal patients.

The study discusses the vital role adequate post-operative care plays in the survival of horses that have undergone abdominal surgery. It elaborates on the importance of constant monitoring of the horse’s physical condition, electrolyte levels, fluid balance, and acid-base abnormalities, along with appropriate treatments.

Post-Operative Management and Anesthesia Recovery

• The post-operative management for horses after abdominal surgery is as critical to their survival as the surgery itself.
• Effective management must begin during the recovery phase from anesthesia to ensure a sufficient oxygen supply, proper ventilation, and to minimize any potential abdominal discomfort.

Physiological Monitoring

• Constant monitoring of the horse’s physical condition is essential in the post-operative phase.
• Key health indicators include abnormalities in serum electrolytes, fluid balance, and acid-base balance.

Electrolyte Imbalances

• Hypokalaemia, or a deficiency of potassium in the bloodstream, is frequently observed among these patients.
• If the potassium deficiency is moderate, intravenous potassium replacement is usually necessary, but if the deficiency is slight, oral replacement could be sufficient.

Fluid Balance and Acid-Base Abnormalities

• Fluid balance in horses is typically maintained using intravenous fluid therapy, as guided by tracking the horse’s packed cell volume (PCV) and plasma protein levels.
• Metabolic acidosis, a condition where the body produces too much acid or kidneys do not remove enough acid from the body, is treated with 5 percent sodium bicarbonate delivered intravenously.

Antibiotic Treatment and Intravenous Therapy

• Patients usually receive broad-spectrum antibiotics, primarily via intravenous injection, but they can also be administered intra-peritoneally, i.e., into the body cavity or organs.
• To ease the intravenous therapy, a silastic catheter, which is less likely to cause vasculature damage, is often used to reduce the risk of clotting in the jugular vein, known as jugular thrombosis.