Retrospective analysis of detomidine infusion for standing chemical restraint in 51 horses

Objective To assess the effectiveness of a detomidine infusion technique to provide standing chemical restraint in the horse. Design Retrospective study. Animals Fifty‐one adult horses aged 9.5 ± 6.9 years (range 1–23 years) and weighing 575 ± 290.3 kg. Methods Records of horses presented to our clinic over a 3‐year period in which a detomidine infusion was used to provide standing chemical restraint were reviewed. Information relating to the types of procedure performed, duration of infusion, drug dosages and adjunct drugs administered was retrieved. Results Detomidine was administered as an initial bolus loading dose (mean ± SD) of 7.5 ± 1.87 µg kg^?1. The initial infusion rate was 0.6 µg kg^?1 minute^?1, and this was halved every 15 minutes. The duration of the infusion ranged from 20 to 135 minutes. Twenty horses received additional detomidine or butorphanol during the procedure. All horses undergoing surgery received local anesthesia or epidural analgesia in addition to the detomidine infusion. A wide variety of procedures were performed in these horses. Conclusions Detomidine administered by infusion provides prolonged periods of chemical restraint in standing horses. Supplemental sedatives or analgesics may be needed in horses undergoing surgery. Clinical relevance An effective method that provides prolonged periods of chemical restraint in standing horses is described. The infusion alone did not provide sufficient analgesia for surgery and a significant proportion of animals required supplemental sedatives and analgesics.     

Return to use and performance following exploratory celiotomy for colic in horses: 195 cases (2003–2010)

Reasons for performing study: There are few objective data on return to use and performance in horses following colic surgery. Objective: To investigate return to functional use of horses following colic surgery and factors associated with a negative outcome. Methods: The North Carolina State University Equine Colic Database was reviewed for horses that underwent exploratory celiotomy for colic (2003–2010). Horses were excluded from the study if they survived <6 months, had no intended use preoperatively, or if further data were not available at attempted follow‐up. Information retrieved included history, background, use, and selected pre‐, intra‐, and post operative factors. Telephone interviews were used to obtain follow‐up data. Logistic regression was used to investigate associations between clinical data and outcome, reported as odds ratios with a 95% confidence interval and corresponding P value. Results: Of patients surviving to 6 months, 133/195 (68%) were performing their intended use and 85/156 (54%) were at or above preoperative performance. At one year, 145/190 (76%) horses were performing their intended use and 101/153 (66%) were at or above preoperative performance. Animals were significantly less likely to return to use/performance if they had a previous celiotomy, stall rest for an orthopaedic condition, a nonstrangulating lesion type, incisional hernia, diarrhoea or laminitis. Conclusions: The overall prognosis for return to use and performance following colic surgery is fair to good. Multiple pre‐ and post operative factors may affect the likelihood of return to use and performance. Potential relevance: Targeted owner education regarding preoperative lameness, post operative rehabilitation and treatment for complications, such as incisional hernioplasty, may help inform owners about their horse's potential for return to use and performance following colic surgery.     

加速康复外科护理对老年股骨颈骨折患者术后恢复及认知功能的影响

目的 观察加速康复外科护理对老年股骨颈骨折患者术后恢复及认知功能的影响。方法 选取本院接受股骨颈骨折手术的老年患者60例,随机分为加速康复外科（enhanced recovery after surgery,ERAS）组和对照组,每组30例。ERAS组采用加速康复外科护理措施,对照组采用传统围手术期护理措施,比较两组住院时间、术后疼痛评分、术后并发症发生情况以及术前1天和术后第7天的简明精神状态量表评分。结果 与对照组比较,ERAS组术后住院时间缩短,术后疼痛评分降低,切口感染、肺部感染、恶心呕吐等并发症发生率降低,差异均有统计学意义（P<0.05或P<0.01）;ERAS组术后髋关节功能Harris得分评级优于对照组（P=0.021）;ERAS组POCD发生率低于对照组,差异具有统计学意义（P=0.046）。结论 加速康复外科护理可安全应用于老年患者股骨颈骨折术围手术期管理,可以促进术后恢复、缩短住院天数、减少并发症的发生,降低POCD发生率,值得临床推广。     

基于督脉理论辨治脊髓疾病——中医脑病理论与临床实证研究（八）

脊髓充贯椎骨管腔、传导脑髓神机、调控躯体神机、脊髓濡养全身躯体及脏腑、脑脊液循环代谢自有常度。督脉循行脊髓,反映脊髓的大部分功能,督脉为通真之路,脊髓为脏真聚所。例举颈脊髓外伤后遗症神经源性膀胱并神经源性直肠、T₁₂-L₁水平椎管内多发性肿瘤术后、脊髓空洞症3个医案,阐释了脊髓病变以脏腑经络病变为基础,具有易虚损、易痹阻、易共病的病机特征。脊髓疾病属于督脉病变的一部分,治疗上以恢复督脉阴阳水火升降之通道为原则,要同时兼顾督脉病和髓病的用药特点。治督脉应与相关经脉同治,形神同治;虚者治肾命为主,实者通经络为要,治神者参考脑病;治髓虚实主于肝胆,尚用风药。脊髓疾病用药不拘定法,必须辨病辨证,分别轻重缓急处理。     

Surgical treatment of a mammary gland comedocarcinoma in an Arabian mare: Post-operative management,and histopathological and immunohistochemical features

A lactating 20-year-old, brown, Arabian mare, weighing about 300 kg, presented for bleeding from one teat and severe swelling of the entire mammary gland. The mare had untreated mastitis 10 months before. Consequently, a gangrenous teat developed after chronic bloody and purulent discharges. The teat was removed surgically by the field veterinarian. At that time, the mammary gland increased in size. Bloody and purulent discharges restarted 10 days previously. Under general anaesthesia, the entire mammary gland was removed. Comedocarcinoma was diagnosed by histopathological assessment. Immunohistochemical staining was performed for pan-cytokeratin and vimentin. Microscopic examination of immunohistochemical stained slides revealed expression of pan-cytokeratin. In conclusion, this report describes clinical, macroscopic, histopathological and immunohistochemical characteristics of comedocarcinoma that did not metastasise to regional lymph nodes. Reports in the field of equine oncology contribute to improved general knowledge in equine medicine, contributing to better diagnosis and treatment.     

Use of an absorbable haemostatic gauze product to control bleeding in 20 horses

The objective of this study was to report our experience with an absorbable haemostatic gauze product in 20 horses with traumatic or surgical haemorrhage. The product is made from oxidised, regenerated cellulose (ORC) and is approved for external use and currently being studied to control internal bleeding in surgical settings in human subjects. Treated horses were from both practice and university settings. Signalment, anatomic location, underlying cause of bleeding and outcome were recorded in the medical record. The size of gauze, approximate time until bleeding stopped, and pre- and post-ORC adjunctive treatments were also recorded. The ORC was used in a variety of anatomic locations, including castration site, foot, flank incisions, distal limb, tooth extraction sites and the perineal region. The bleeding stopped or slowed dramatically within 90 s in 15 of 20 cases. There were no recorded complications in any of the cases. While this clinical report does not attempt to prove efficacy of the product in horses, it does show that this ORC product, which has been approved for use as a haemostatic agent in human subjects, is safe and of practical value, and may be a useful and viable option for the control of haemorrhage in a variety of equine clinical settings.