Ultrasonographic technique and appearance of adrenal gland in neonatal foals: a pilot study

Abnormal adrenal activity is involved in several neonatal diseases. Objectives of this pilot study were to assess the feasibility to investigate the adrenal gland in neonatal foals using the sonographic technique and to describe the ultrasonographic appearance. Eighteen neonatal foals less than 10 days of age were included in this study. Adrenal gland ultrasound was performed with a transcutaneous abdominal approach; anatomic localization, shape, and appearance were recorded. The right and left adrenal glands were located medial and cranial to kidney's hilus, between kidney and the caudal vena cava and ventral to the aorta, respectively. The right had a peanut shape in the majority; the left varied from crescent to oval-elliptic shapes. Ultrasonographically, the cortex (hypoechogenic) was well differentiated from the medulla (echogenic), except in three foals. Adrenal glands can be assessed consistently using abdominal ultrasonography in foals

Horner's syndrome associated to disseminated thoracic melanoma in a lipizzaner horse

A20-year-oldgeldingLipizzanerhorsewas referredforonsetofprofusesweating andincreased heat on the right side of the head, neck, and thoracic limb. On physical examination, the horse presented tachycardia, muffled heart sounds with a pansystolic murmur, and signs of heart failure such as ventral edema, jugular distention, and pulsation. Ultrasonography examination revealed a bilateral pleural effusion and a large intrathoracicmass extending into the anterior mediastinum, which shifted the heart dorsocaudally. Thoracocentesis revealed serosanguineous fluid indicative of a melanocytic tumor. Thoracoscopy revealed a large dark mass extending into and filling the cranioventralmediastinum. Themass appearancewas consistent with amelanoma, and because prognosis was poor, the owner elected euthanasia. A necropsy supported the presence of disseminatedmelanomaswith a greater thoracicmass involving the right cervicothoracic ganglion, leading to clinical signs of sympathetic denervation

Artrite settica nel puledro: valutazione di alcunitra i fattori che influenzano esito e prognosie confronto di diverse strategie di trattamento

L’artrite settica nel puledro è una patologia frequente e grave, che può comprometterne in alcuni casi la stessa sopravvivenza. Si sviluppa in genere in associazione ad altre condizioni patologiche che consentono una diffusione per via ematogena di batteri e la loro conseguente localizzazione a livello articolare. L’esito dipende strettamente dalla rapidità con cui si riesce ad effettuare una diagnosi e ad impostare un’opportuna terapia, dal tipo di terapia, dalla gravità della condizione e dal grado di compromissione sistemica del soggetto. Diverse sono le strategie di trattamento attuabili, ma quelle che prevedono l’esecuzione di lavaggi articolari e somministrazioni locali di antibiotici specifici sembrano avere maggior successo

Is there a statistical correlation between ultrasonographic findings and definitive diagnosis in horses with acute abdominal pain?

Abdominal ultrasonography has become a part of the diagnostic investigation for the acute abdomen in many equine clinics. There is limited information on the correlation between abnormalities detected on abdominal ultrasonography and the specific category of small intestine (SI) and large intestine (LI) diseases. Objectives: To investigate the relationship between abdominal ultrasonographic findings and disease categories that cause abdominal pain requiring surgery. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for horses undergoing surgery or post mortem examination for colic. The ultrasound examination was performed to assess free peritoneal fluid, the left kidney, stomach, appearance and motility of the duodenum, identification, appearance, motility and thickness of small intestine loops, and the appearance and motility of the colon. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify associations between disease categories and ultrasonographic findings; a Chi-squared test was used to test for associations between each variable and disease categories. Results: The study included 158 horses. Distended and nonmotile SI loops were associated with strangulated obstruction (n = 45); increased free peritoneal fluid, completely distended SI loops with abnormal motility and thickened loops were associated with definitive diagnosis involving SI (n = 58). Failure to visualise the left kidney was associated with renosplenic entrapment (n = 16); thickened large colon (LC) was associated with LC strangulating volvulus (n = 9). Conclusion: The use of abdominal ultrasonography can be used for the accurate definitive diagnosis involving SI and LI diseases. Potential relevance: This retrospective study may be used as a basis for prospective studies to assess the ultrasonographic findings in horses with medical colic and to compare these with surgical findings

Sedazione profonda per chirurgie in stazione quadrupedale nel cavallo: due protocolli a confronto

In order to avoid the high risk of general anaesthesia, surgical or diagnostic procedures should be performed in the standing sedated horse, whenever feasible. Romifidine, xylazine and detomidine are alpha2-agonists frequently administered to restrain horses for clinical management. For longer sedation they often need to be administered repeatedly, resulting in possible major cardiovascular compromise and ataxia. The present study aim to compare two continuous infusion regimens for detomidine and romifidine, administered to induce a steady state plasma concentration to provide deep, safe and stable sedation in 77 standing horses undergoing elective surgery

Efficacia della Xilaxina nell'analgesia intrarticolare post-operatoria nel cavallo

Visto il crescente impiego della chirurgia artroscopica anche in medicina veterinaria e l'interesse per la ricerca di tecniche analgesiche di facile applicabilità ed efficacia, è stato indagato l'impiego intrarticolare di farmaci analgesici in cavalli sottoposti a chirurgia artroscopica. Sulla base di studi in medicina umana è stata valutata l'efficacia di alfa-2 agonisti rispetto al più comune utilizzo di oppioidi

La Tomografia Computerizzata per la valutazione di alcune patologie della testa in 11 cavalli. Computed tomography for evaluation of some head diseases in 11 horses

Negli ultimi 15 anni si è andato progressivamente diffondendo l’utilizzo della Tomografia Computerizzata (TC) come mezzo diagnostico nelle patologie della testa del cavallo. La TC in questa specie è stata ampiamente utilizzata per la diagnosi di patologie a carico del sistema nervoso centrale, del sistema endocrino, delle arcate dentarie, dei seni paranasali, del setto nasale, dell’articolazione temporo-mandibolare, dell’articolazione temporo-ioidea e di fratture maxillo-facciali e della scatola cranica. Grazie alla sua capacità intrinseca di fornire sezioni di parti anatomiche senza sovrapposizioni la TC permette di rilevare alterazioni ossee e dei tessuti molli non sempre individuabili radiograficamente e non accessibili con l’esame ecografico. Lo scopo di questo studio retrospettivo è quello di descrivere gli aspetti tomografici riscontrati in 11 cavalli di razza, sesso ed età differenti, sottoposti a TC per diverse patologie a carico della testa, e di illustrare in quali situazioni può essere indicato questo esame diagnostico. Tutte le immagini sono state ottenute impiegando una TC spirale di quarta generazione con i pazienti mantenuti in anestesia generale. In 5 cavalli, 2 con frattura del basisfenoide-basioccipitale, 1 con massa retrobulbare, 1 con ciste della conca dorsale e seno conco-frontale e 1 con interessamento del setto nasale, la TC si è rivelata indispensabile per formulare la diagnosi. In 3 casi, tutti presentanti tumori di origine odontogena, questo esame ha consentito l’esatta valutazione dell’estensione delle neoplasie e il grado di coinvolgimento dei tessuti molli circostanti, elementi indispensabili per la programmazione degli interventi chirurgici. Infine, in 3 casi, 2 con sospetta epilessia benigna del puledro arabo ed una sospetta neurite del nervo ottico, la TC ha permesso di escludere la presenza di alterazioni delle strutture ossee della scatola cranica e di lesioni occupanti spazio della stessa. La TC si è dimostrata uno strumento diagnostico estremamente utile, in grado di fornire importanti informazioni per la determinazione del tipo di trattamento a cui sottoporre i pazienti. È da sottolineare comunque che anche la TC, come gli altri mezzi diagnostici, presenta degli svantaggi e delle limitazioni, come la necessità di dover porre il paziente in anestesia generale e la ridotta sensibilità nei confronti di alterazioni parenchimatose del sistema nervoso centrale

Evaluation of transabdominal ultrasound as a tool for predicting the success of abdominocentesis in horses

The aim of this study was to evaluate the transabdominal ultrasonography as a tool for predicting the success of abdominocentesis in horses. Patients were included in the study if a complete transabdominal ultrasonography examination and abdominocentesis were performed as part of the clinical work-up. Ultrasonographically, the amount of peritoneal fluid was assessed using a 4-point grading system, as well as the amount of peritoneal fluid collected. A χ2 or Fischer exact test was performed to test for an association between the ultrasonography findings and fluid retrieved, and between the two grading scales. Interobserver and intraobserver agreement values were calculated using k statistics. Values of P<0.05 were considered significant; 109 horses met the inclusion criteria. Peritoneal fluid was identified ultrasonographically in 72 per cent of horses, and it was collected from 93 per cent of these cases. In horses with no peritoneal fluid identified at ultrasonography (28 per cent), fluid was collected in 70 per cent of cases. There is a significant association between transabdominal ultrasonography detection of peritoneal fluid and the likelihood to obtain a diagnostic amount of peritoneal fluid at abdominocentesis; however, even when peritoneal fluid is not detected during abdominal ultrasonography examination, an amount of peritoneal fluid useful for gross, clinicopathological and cytological evaluation can frequently be obtained

Uso dell’ecografia in corso di sindrome colica nel cavallo: studio retrospettivo su 158 casi chirurgici

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of abdominal ultrasonography as a diagnostic tool in colic horses requiring surgery. Left kidney, stomach, duodenum, loops of the small intestine (SI), large colon (LC) and amount of peritoneal fluid were assessed. One hundred fifty-eight horses with signs of acute abdomen were included. The results support previous data obtained for definitive diagnosis involving SI, in particular strangulating obstruction, and strangulating LC volvulus. Thickened wall loops may be present in horses with obstruction, intussusception, and inflammatory bowel diseases. Ultrasound examination is very sensitive for renosplenic entrapment. Large colon should be carefully evaluated since LC lesions could represent the primary disease even if abnormal SI loops are identified