Treatment and outcomes of two pigs treated for hemoabdomen secondary to splenic disease.

Objective: To report the management and outcomes of two pigs undergoing emergency surgery for hemoabdomen secondary to splenic disease.

Study Design: Case report.

Animal: Two adult pigs with hemoabdomen and suspected splenic pathology.

The pathophysiology of uncontrolled hemorrhage in horses.

Background: Hemorrhagic shock in horses may be classified in several ways. Hemorrhage may be considered internal versus external, controlled or uncontrolled, or described based on the severity of hypovolemic shock the patient is experiencing. Regardless of the cause, as the severity of hemorrhage worsens, homeostatic responses are stimulated to ameliorate the systemic and local effects of an oxygen debt.

Collection and administration of blood products in horses: Transfusion indications, materials, methods, complications, donor selection, and blood testing.

Background: Blood transfusion is a lifesaving treatment for horses with acute hemorrhage and other causes of anemia. Transfusions improve oxygen delivery to the tissues via increased blood volume and hemoglobin concentration. Certain aspects of equine blood transfusion are challenging, especially in the field situation, and practitioners may be unfamiliar or feel overwhelmed with the process.

Abdominocentesis techniques in horses.

Background: Abdominocentesis is commonly used to evaluate the abdominal cavity of the horse. This technique provides valuable diagnostic information as well as the means to monitor patients with abdominal diseases being managed medically and to determine their need for surgical management. Complications are uncommon and include trauma to the gastrointestinal tract or spleen, septic peritonitis, or abdominal wall infection.

Interpreting abdominal fluid in colic horses: Understanding and applying peritoneal fluid evidence.

Background: Interpreting changes in peritoneal fluid helps clinicians manage colic and other diseases in horses. During abdominal problems in the horse, abdominal fluid characteristics such as color, turbidity, total nucleated and red blood cell counts, cytology, total protein, and l-lactate change in predictable ways, helping the clinician characterize the disease.

Description: Normal abdominal fluid in horses is odorless, clear to light yellow in color, and transparent.

Calculating and selecting fluid therapy and blood product replacements for horses with acute hemorrhage.

Background: Blood products, crystalloids, and colloid fluids are used in the medical treatment of severe hemorrhage in horses with a goal of providing sufficient blood flow and oxygen delivery to vital organs. The fluid treatments for hemorrhage will vary depending upon severity and duration and whether hemorrhage is controlled or uncontrolled.

Description: With acute and severe controlled hemorrhage, treatment is focused on rapidly increasing perfusion pressure and blood flow to vital organs.

Higher body mass index may increase the risk for the development of incisional complications in horses following emergency ventral midline celiotomy.

Background: Obesity is common in the equine population and it has been associated with increased surgical morbidity and mortality in humans. The effect of increased body mass index (BMI) on the incidence of surgical site infections has not been investigated in horses.

Objectives: To determine whether horses with increased body fat, as estimated by BMI, are more likely to develop post-operative complications, particularly incisional complications, following emergency ventral midline celiotomy.

Transnasal, Endoscopically Guided Skull-Based Surgery by Pharyngotomy for Mass Removal from the Sphenopalatine Sinus in a Horse.

Objective: To report a transnasal, endoscopically guided ventral surgical approach for accessing the cranial and caudal segments of the sphenopalatine sinus for mass removal in a horse.

Study Design: Case report.

Animal: Adult horse with acute onset blindness referable to a soft tissue mass within the sphenopalatine sinus.

The clinical value of whole blood point-of-care biomarkers in large animal emergency and critical care medicine.

Objective: To summarize the current medical literature and provide a clinical perspective of whole blood point-of-care (POC) biomarkers in large animal emergency and critical care practice.

Data Sources: Original studies, reviews, and textbook chapters in the human and veterinary medical fields.

Summary: POC biomarkers are tests used to monitor normal or disease processes at or near the patient.

Laparoscopic-guided compared to skilled instructor support for student rectal examination training using live horses in the veterinary curriculum.

Objectives: To evaluate the veterinary student learning outcome of 2 methods of equine rectal examination training.

Study Design: Randomized prospective study.

Sample Population: Veterinary students (3rd and 4th year; n = 40) and practicing equine veterinarians (n = 10).

Evaluation of L-lactate and cardiac troponin I in horses undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.

Objective: To evaluate changes in plasma cardiac troponin I (cTnI) and L-lactate (LLt) as prognostic indicators in horses undergoing emergency abdominal surgery.

Design: Prospective observational study.

Setting: Veterinary teaching hospital.

Arthroscopic removal of palmar/plantar osteochondral fragments from the proximal interphalangeal joint in four horses.

Objective: To describe anatomic considerations and arthroscopic technique in horses for arthroscopic removal of palmar/plantar osteochondral fragments from the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint.

Study Design: Retrospective study.

Animals: Adult horses (n=4) with osteochondral fragments of the palmar/plantar PIP joint.

Cylindrical press-fit osteochondral allografts for resurfacing the equine metatarsophalangeal joint.

Objective: To investigate the feasibility of resurfacing the equine fetlock joint using cylindrical, orthotopic, press-fit, osteochondral allografts.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Animals: Ten mature, mixed-breed horses.