Abstract: Prophylactic perioperative antimicrobial protocols in equine synovial endoscopy have been described but not compared with respect to post-operative outcomes and complications. Increasing antimicrobial resistance in equine practice and interest in promoting judicious use of antimicrobials has prompted reevaluation of drug selection and dosing strategies. To determine the frequency of and compare post-operative complications following elective synovial endoscopy between horses receiving different perioperative antimicrobial protocols. Records from the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital were evaluated (2014-2018) and equine patients undergoing elective synovial endoscopy were identified. Patients undergoing endoscopy for sepsis or internal fixation were excluded. Patient signalment, clinician, joint and limb involved, perioperative antimicrobial regimen, number endoscopic portals and closure technique, and post-operative complications including incidence of joint infection were recorded. Generalized linear models were used to estimate the odds of post-operative complications. Elective synovial endoscopies of 516 horses in 537 procedures evaluating 761 synovial structures were performed. No horses developed post-operative septic synovitis. Administration of post-operative antimicrobials, type used and patient sex were all significantly associated with increased risk of complications, which were predominantly gastrointestinal-related. Complication rates in horses receiving a single preoperative dose of cefazolin were lower than in horses receiving potassium penicillin, gentamicin or multiple doses. Complication rates were lower in females compared to castrated or intact males. Other factors evaluated (breed, age, surgeon, anaesthesia duration or hospitalization, joint/limb operated, number endoscopic portals) were not associated with increased risk of complications post-operatively in this case population. Prophylactic perioperative antimicrobial protocols in equine practice deserve periodic reconsideration due to increased antimicrobial resistance. Prolonged antimicrobial usage beyond the time of surgery was unnecessary to prevent septic synovitis following synovial endoscopy in this case population and was furthermore associated with an increased risk of gastrointestinal complications.
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The research investigated the connection between different perioperative antimicrobial protocols and post-operative complications in horses that underwent elective synovial endoscopy. It found that prolonged use of antimicrobials beyond surgery time was not required to prevent septic synovitis and was, in fact, associated with higher risks of gastrointestinal complications.
Research Context
The study was motivated by rising antimicrobial resistance and the need to be more judicious with the use of antimicrobials in equine practice. This led to the reevaluation of drug selection and dosing strategies for horses undergoing synovial endoscopy — a surgical procedure used to diagnose and treat conditions within a joint.
Methodology
The researchers evaluated records from 2014-2018 from the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, tallying horses that went through elective synovial endoscopy. Horses that had sepsis or internal fixation were kept out of the research.
Various factors were recorded, including patient sex, clinician, involved limb and joint, perioperative antimicrobial regimen, number of endoscopic portals, closure technique, and post-operative complications.
The authors used generalized linear models to assess the chances of post-operative complications.
Findings
The study involved 516 horses in 537 procedures assessing 761 synovial structures. No post-operative septic synovitis was noted in the horses.
A significantly higher risk of complications, mostly gastrointestinal-related, was linked to the administration of post-operative antimicrobials, the type of antimicrobials used, and patient sex.
Horses that received a single preoperative dose of the antibiotic cefazolin experienced lower complication rates than those given potassium penicillin, gentamicin, or multiple doses.
Females had lower complication rates compared to castrated or intact males. Factors such as breed, age, surgeon, duration of anaesthesia or hospitalization, and the number of endoscopic portals, were not linked to increased risk of complications post-operatively.
Conclusions
The researchers concluded that due to increasing antimicrobial resistance, the routines around prophylactic perioperative antimicrobial protocols in equine practice need to be reconsidered periodically.
The findings suggest that sustained antimicrobial use beyond the time of surgery was unnecessary to prevent septic synovitis after synovial endoscopy, and that such practice could instead result in a higher risk of gastrointestinal complications.
Cite This Article
APA
Pezzanite LM, Griffenhagen GM, Krause DM, Hendrickson DA.
(2021).
Retrospective evaluation of association between perioperative antimicrobial protocol and complications following elective equine synovial endoscopy.
Vet Med Sci, 7(3), 609-620.
https://doi.org/10.1002/vms3.447
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, CO, USA.
Griffenhagen, Gregg M
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, CO, USA.
Krause, Danielle M
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, CO, USA.
Hendrickson, Dean A
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, CO, USA.
MeSH Terms
Animals
Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
Elective Surgical Procedures / statistics & numerical data
Elective Surgical Procedures / veterinary
Endoscopy / adverse effects
Endoscopy / veterinary
Female
Horses / surgery
Male
Perioperative Period / statistics & numerical data
Perioperative Period / veterinary
Postoperative Complications / etiology
Postoperative Complications / veterinary
Retrospective Studies
Sex Factors
Grant Funding
TL1 TR002533 / NCATS NIH HHS
T32 OD010437 / NIH HHS
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.
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