FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / J Vet Intern Med / The Association of Fibrinous Pleural Effusion with Survival ...
Journal of veterinary internal medicine2015; 29(5); 1410-1417; doi: 10.1111/jvim.13591

The Association of Fibrinous Pleural Effusion with Survival and Complications in Horses with Pleuropneumonia (2002-2012): 74 Cases.

Abstract: Fibrinous parapneumonic pleural effusions are associated with decreased efficacy of pleural fluid drainage and increased risk of medical treatment failure in people, but similar associations have not been established in horses. Objective: We hypothesized that fibrin deposition in the pleural cavity of horses with parapneumonic effusions increases the risk of poor outcome. Methods: Seventy four horses with bacterial pleuropneumonia diagnosed by culture and cytology of tracheal aspirates, pleural fluid, or both, and pleural effusion diagnosed by ultrasonographic examination. Methods: Retrospective study of cases was from 2002 to 2012. Information obtained from the medical records included signalment, history, sonographic findings, treatments, and outcome. The primary outcome investigated was survival and secondary outcomes were development of complications and surgical intervention. Fisher's exact test and logistic regression were applied for categorical variables. A t-test was used to find differences in continuous variables between groups. Results: Seventy four horses met study criteria and 50 (68%) survived. Fibrinous pleural effusion was associated with higher respiratory rate and pleural fluid height at admission, necrotizing pneumonia, increased number of indwelling thoracic drains required for treatment, and decreased survival. Conclusions: Fibrin accumulation in parapneumonic effusions is associated with increased mortality. Direct fibrinolytic treatment might be indicated in affected horses.
Copyright © 2015 The Authors. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2015-08-11 PubMed ID: 26259510PubMed Central: PMC4858045DOI: 10.1111/jvim.13591Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This study demonstrates a link between fibrinous pleural effusion and decreased survival rates and complications in horses. The researchers used data and methods such as sonography and logistic regression on a sample of 74 horses with bacterial pleuropneumonia over a decade, from 2002 to 2012.

Study Objective and Hypothesis

The core objective of the research was to understand if fibrin buildup in the pleural cavity of horses suffering from parapneumonic effusions increases the risk of a poor outcome. It was motivated by similar findings in humans where fibrinous pleural effusions decreased the effectiveness of pleural fluid drainage and heightened the risk of medical treatment failure.

Methods

  • A sample size of 74 horses diagnosed with bacterial pleuropneumonia were included in the study. These horses were diagnosed through cytology of tracheal aspirates, pleural fluid, or both. The diagnosis was confirmed via a sonographic examination of the pleural effusion.
  • The study was retrospective, covering cases from 2002 to 2012. The data, including information on the horses’ signalment, history, sonographic findings, treatments, and outcome was extracted from medical records.
  • The primary outcome investigated was survival, with secondary outcomes being the development of complications and the requirement for surgical intervention.
  • Statistical methods utilized to analyze the data included Fisher’s exact test and logistic regression for categorical variables and t-tests for continuous variables.

Results

  • Of the 74 horses that met the study criteria, 50, which is 68%, survived.
  • Fibrinous pleural effusion was associated with higher respiratory rate, higher pleural fluid height at admission, necrotizing pneumonia, and an increased number of indwelling thoracic drains required for treatment.
  • Key finding: Presence of fibrinous pleural effusion corresponded to decreased survival.

Conclusions

The study concluded that fibrin accumulation in parapneumonic effusions is indeed correlated with increased mortality rates in horses. Consequently, the researchers suggested that horses diagnosed with this condition could potentially benefit from direct fibrinolytic treatment to improve their chances of survival.

Cite This Article

APA
Tomlinson JE, Reef VB, Boston RC, Johnson AL. (2015). The Association of Fibrinous Pleural Effusion with Survival and Complications in Horses with Pleuropneumonia (2002-2012): 74 Cases. J Vet Intern Med, 29(5), 1410-1417. https://doi.org/10.1111/jvim.13591

Publication

Journal of veterinary internal medicine
ISSN: 1939-1676
NlmUniqueID: 8708660
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 29
Issue: 5
Pages: 1410-1417

Researcher Affiliations

Tomlinson, J E
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA.
Reef, V B
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA.
Boston, R C
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA.
Johnson, A L
  • Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Kennett Square, PA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Horse Diseases / mortality
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horses
  • Male
  • Pleural Effusion / complications
  • Pleural Effusion / mortality
  • Pleural Effusion / pathology
  • Pleural Effusion / veterinary
  • Pleuropneumonia, Contagious / drug therapy
  • Pleuropneumonia, Contagious / mortality
  • Pleuropneumonia, Contagious / pathology
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Survival Analysis

References

This article includes 21 references
  1. Smith BP, Clarence J. Marshall Memorial Library Fund, Rosengarten Family Fund In: Smith Bradford P., ed. Large Animal Internal Medicine, 4th ed St. Louis, MO: Mosby Elsevier; 2009:1821.
  2. Racklyeft DJ, Love DN. Bacterial infection of the lower respiratory tract in 34 horses.. Aust Vet J 2000 Aug;78(8):549-59.
    pubmed: 10979512doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2000.tb11901.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  3. Raphel CF, Beech J. Pleuritis secondary to pneumonia or lung abscessation in 90 horses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1982 Oct 15;181(8):808-10.
    pubmed: 7141978
  4. Sweeney CR, Holcombe SJ, Barningham SC, Beech J. Aerobic and anaerobic bacterial isolates from horses with pneumonia or pleuropneumonia and antimicrobial susceptibility patterns of the aerobes.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1991 Mar 1;198(5):839-42.
    pubmed: 2026535
  5. Vachon AM, Fischer AT. Thoracoscopy in the horse: diagnostic and therapeutic indications in 28 cases.. Equine Vet J 1998 Nov;30(6):467-75.
    pubmed: 9844964doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1998.tb04521.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  6. Seltzer KL, Byars TD. Prognosis for return to racing after recovery from infectious pleuropneumonia in thoroughbred racehorses: 70 cases (1984-1989).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1996 Apr 15;208(8):1300-1.
    pubmed: 8635976
  7. Sweeney CR, Divers TJ, Benson CE. Anaerobic bacteria in 21 horses with pleuropneumonia.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1985 Oct 1;187(7):721-4.
    pubmed: 4055490
  8. Carlson GP, O'Brien MA. Anaerobic bacterial pneumonia with septicemia in two racehorses.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1990 Mar 15;196(6):941-3.
    pubmed: 2312393
  9. Himelman RB, Callen PW. The prognostic value of loculations in parapneumonic pleural effusions.. Chest 1986 Dec;90(6):852-6.
    pubmed: 3536342doi: 10.1378/chest.90.6.852google scholar: lookup
  10. Raidal SL. Equine pleuropneumonia.. Br Vet J 1995 May-Jun;151(3):233-62.
    pubmed: 7640954doi: 10.1016/s0007-1935(95)80175-8google scholar: lookup
  11. Chaffin MK, Carter GK, Byars TD. Equine bacterial pleuropneumonia. part III. treatment, sequelae, and prognosis.. Compend Contin Educ Vet 1994;16:1585–1594.
  12. Burbidge HM. Penetrating thoracic wound in a Hackney mare.. Equine Vet J 1982 Jan;14(1):94-5.
    pubmed: 7084188doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1982.tb02351.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  13. Hilton H, Pusterla N. Intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy in the management of septic pleuropneumonia in a horse.. Vet Rec 2009 May 2;164(18):558-9.
    pubmed: 19411687doi: 10.1136/vr.164.18.558google scholar: lookup
  14. Rendle DI, Armstrong SK, Hughes KJ. Combination fibrinolytic therapy in the treatment of chronic septic pleuropneumonia in a Thoroughbred gelding.. Aust Vet J 2012 Sep;90(9):358-62.
    pubmed: 22928684doi: 10.1111/j.1751-0813.2012.00962.xgoogle scholar: lookup
  15. Reef VB. Thoracic ultrasonography In: Reef Virginia B., ed. Equine Diagnostic Ultrasound. Philadelphia, PA: W.B. Saunders; 1998:187–208.
  16. Mansmann RA. Panel: Pleuropneumonia.. AAEP Proc 1983;29:59–63.
  17. Reimer JM, Reef VB, Spencer PA. Ultrasonography as a diagnostic aid in horses with anaerobic bacterial pleuropneumonia and/or pulmonary abscessation: 27 cases (1984-1986).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1989 Jan 15;194(2):278-82.
    pubmed: 2645254
  18. Abu-Daff S, Maziak DE, Alshehab D, Threader J, Ivanovic J, Deslaurier V, Villeneuve PJ, Gilbert S, Sundaresan S, Shamji F, Lougheed C, Seely JM, Seely AJ. Intrapleural fibrinolytic therapy (IPFT) in loculated pleural effusions--analysis of predictors for failure of therapy and bleeding: a cohort study.. BMJ Open 2013;3(2).
    doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2012-001887pmc: PMC3586180pubmed: 23377992google scholar: lookup
  19. Chung CL, Chen YC, Chang SC. Effect of repeated thoracenteses on fluid characteristics, cytokines, and fibrinolytic activity in malignant pleural effusion.. Chest 2003 Apr;123(4):1188-95.
    pubmed: 12684310doi: 10.1378/chest.123.4.1188google scholar: lookup
  20. Mair TS, Yeo SP. Equine pleuropneumonia: the importance of anaerobic bacteria and the potential value of metronidazole in treatment.. Vet Rec 1987 Aug 1;121(5):109-10.
    pubmed: 3660538doi: 10.1136/vr.121.5.109google scholar: lookup
  21. Reef VB. Outcome and return to performance in horses with pleuropneumonia evaluated ultrasonographically.. ACVIM Proc 1990;573–575.

Citations

This article has been cited 2 times.
  1. Arroyo MG, Slovis NM, Moore GE, Taylor SD. Factors Associated with Survival in 97 Horses with Septic Pleuropneumonia.. J Vet Intern Med 2017 May;31(3):894-900.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.14679pubmed: 28271546google scholar: lookup
  2. Tomlinson JE, Byrne E, Pusterla N, Magdesian KG, Hilton HG, McGorum B, Davis E, Schoster A, Arroyo L, Dunkel B, Carslake H, Boston RC, Johnson AL. The Use of Recombinant Tissue Plasminogen Activator (rTPA) in The Treatment of Fibrinous Pleuropneumonia in Horses: 25 Cases (2007-2012).. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Sep-Oct;29(5):1403-9.
    doi: 10.1111/jvim.13594pubmed: 26256909google scholar: lookup
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,357 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.