Omentopexy for correction of right abomasal displacement: results in 135 cows

One hundred and thirty-five cows were surgically treated for correction of right displaced abomasum (RDA) using the right flank omentopexy technique. In 33 cows an abomasal dilatation was diagnosed. Abomasal volvulus was found in 99 animals and omaso-abomasal volvulus in three. In-hospital mortality was 15% (n = 20). None of the cows with abomaso-omasal torsion survived. Ninety-seven percent (n = 32) of the cows with abomasal dilatation and 84% (n = 83) of the cows with abomasal volvulus were discharged from the clinic. Six months after surgery, respectively 94% of the cows with abomasal dilatation had survived. This percentage fell to 88.5% after another half year. For cows with abomasal volvulus, these survival rates were 74% and 62%, respectively. Regardless of the type of abomasal dislocation, 77% of the total group of animals survived after six months and 66% after one year. Six months after surgery, good milk production was reported in 67% (n = 58) of the surviving cows; this figure rose to 91% of the surviving cows (n = 63) after 12 months

Chirurgische behandeling van een synoviale hernia van het tibiotarsaal gewricht bij het paard

This case report describes the treatment of a large hernia of the tibiotarsal joint in a horse. A fluctuant swelling on the lateral aspect of the tarsus had suddenly appeared and it gradually increased to reach a diameter of 12 cm and a thickness of 6 cm. There was pronounced synovial effusion of the tibiotarsal joint, but none of the swellings was painful. The horse was not lame. During a diagnostic arthroscopy, an opening of 1 by 2.5 cm could be detected on the lateral aspect of the joint capsule. Surgical correction with resection of the hernial sac and closure of the defect in the fibrous joint capsule were performed. In the postsurgical period, the effusion of the joint and swelling of the periarticular structures gradually diminished resulting in a clinically normal tarsus. Synovial hernias are relatively uncommon in the horse and have not been described in this location. They should mainly be differentiated from a joint ganglion, a haematoma and an acquired bursitis at the level of the joint. This case report illustrates that, even for very large joint hernias, the prognosis after surgical correction is good

Koliek bij het paard: een retrospectieve studie : prevalentie, resultaten van conservatieve en operatieve behandeling

A retrospective study was performed on 2,264 horses pesented with colicn at Ghent University (Belgium) in the period 1986-1994. In this article, parameters not directly related to a specific type of colic are discussed. Approximately 32% of all horses addmitted to the clinic of Internal Diseases were presented because of colic. The colic pathology was observed mainly during the spring. A significantly great number of mares and warmblood riding horses was observed mainly during the spring. A significantly great number of mares and warmblood riding horses were presented, and significantly lower number of stallions and halfblood horses. The prevalence of colic increased with age, stagnating around age 13. One thousand one hundred sixty-eight exploratory laparotomies were performed on 1,069 horses. During the period 1986-1994 the number of surgical interventions gradually increased. The short-term survival rate also increased progressively: by the end of the period studied, it had reached 87% for conservative treatment and 73% for surgical corrections. A variable successn rate after surgery was observed among the different surgeons. The determining factors for this variable success were the surgeon's individual experience in abdominal surgery and the period in which the exploratory laparotomies were performed. the success rate after non-invasive or minimally invasive surgical techniques was significantly better than after the use of invasive techniques. The most commonly observed postoperative complications were thrombophlebitis, diarrhea, wound infection and laminitis

Een retrospectieve studie van chirurgisch behandelde specifieke koliekaandoeningen bij het paard

In the period 1986-1994 a retrospective study was performed on 2,264 horses with colic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Ghent University/Belgium. An exploratory laparotomy was performed in 1,069 horses. In this study the observed pathological conditions in the different parts of the gastrointestinal tract are thoroughly discussed in depth. The origin of colic symptoms was determined by rectal examination or exploratory laparotomy: it was localized in the ascending colon in 31% of the horses and in the small intestine in 25% of them. Less frequently observed localizations were the caecum (8%), the descending colon (3%), the stomach (3%) and the rectum (1%). The localization of colic pathology could not or not exactly be determined in 28% of the cases. Short time survival rates were used. The overall survival rate of conservative and surgical treatment of horses with pathology of the descending colon and pathology of the caecum and/or ascending colon was respectively 80% and 75%. The survival rate of horses with pathology of the small intestine, the rectum and the stomach was less favorable: 54%, 35% and 32% respectively. The risk of developing colic was statistically analyzed according to breed, gender and age. Foals less than I year old ran a significantly higher risk of small intestinal volvulus. Geldings and Warmblood horses had a higher incidence of incarceration through the foramen omentale (epiploicon), whereas females and foals had a lower incidence. An inguinal hernia was significantly more often observed in foals and stallions, and significantly less in mares and geldings. Horses aged 9-12 years showed a higher risk of caecal tympany, whereas ponies, males, foals and horses aged 1-4 years ran an increased risk of (ileo)caecal intussusception. Mares and horses aged 1-4 or 5-8 years had a higher incidence of pelvic flexure impaction. The incidence of right colonic displacement was lower in males and foals. Older horses and mares were at significantly greater risk of developing a colon torsion. A higher incidence of left dorsal displacement was observed in geldings and a lower incidence in females

Accuracy of energy prediction methodologies

In the current market, the specific annual energy yield (kWh/kWp) of a PV system is gaining in importance due to its direct link to the financial returns for possible investors who typically demand an accuracy of 5% in this prediction. This paper focuses on the energy prediction of photovoltaic modules themselves, as there have been significant advances achieved with module technologies which affect the device physics in a way that might force the revisiting of device modelling. The paper reports the results of a round robin based evaluation of European modelling methodologies. The results indicate that the error in predicting energy yield for the same module at different locations was within 5% for most of the methodologies. However, this error increased significantly if the nominal nameplate rating is used in the characterization stage. For similar modules at the same location the uncertainties were much larger due to module-module variations

Photovoltaic performance measurements in Europe: PV-catapult round robin tests

Two sets of modules have been sent around to different testing installations across Europe, one set to laboratories performing indoor calibrations and one set to laboratories performing outdoor power and energy ratings. The results show that for crystalline and polycrystalline devices, a very good agreement between laboratories has been achieved. A lower agreement between laboratories has been achieved for thin film devices and further need for research is identified

Accuracy of Energy Prediction Methodologies

In the current market, the specific annual energy yield (kWh/kWp) of a PV system is gaining in importance due to its direct link to the financial returns for possible investors who typically demand an accuracy of 5% in this prediction. This paper focuses on the energy prediction of photovoltaic modules themselves, as there have been significant advances achieved with module technologies which affect the device physics in a way that might force the revisiting of device modelling. The paper reports the results of a round robin based evaluation of European modelling methodologies. The results indicate that the error in predicting energy yield for the same module at different locations was within 5% for most of the methodologies. However, this error increased significantly if the nominal nameplate rating is used in the characterization stage. For similar modules at the same location the uncertainties were much larger due to module-module variations

Revealing the pace of river landscape evolution during the Quaternary: recent developments in numerical dating methods

During the last twenty years, several technical developments have considerably intensified the use of numerical dating methods for the Quaternary. The study of fluvial archives has greatly benefited from these enhancements, opening new dating horizons for a range of archives at distinct time scales and thereby providing new insights into previously unanswered questions. In this contribution, we separately present the state of the art of five numerical dating methods that are frequently used in the fluvial context: radiocarbon, Luminescence, Electron Spin Resonance (ESR), 230Th/U and terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides (TCN) dating. We focus on the major recent developments for each technique that are most relevant for new dating applications in diverse fluvial environments and on explaining these for non-specialists. Therefore, essential information and precautions about sampling strategies in the field and/or laboratory procedures are provided. For each method, new and important implications for chronological reconstructions of Quaternary fluvial landscapes are discussed and, where necessary, exemplified by key case studies. A clear statement of the current technical limitations of these methods is included and forthcoming developments, which might possibly open new horizons for dating fluvial archives in the near future, are summarised