Ileal hypertrophy and associated true diverticulum as a cause of colic in a horse

A 4-year-old Thoroughbred gelding underwent an explorative celiotomy for a suspected small intestinal obstruction. During surgery, an impacted diverticulum of the ileum was suspected, necessitating a jejunocaecostomy. The owner opted for euthanasia. On post-mortem examination and histopathology, a true diverticulum on the mesenteric side of the ileum, with ileal hypertrophy, was diagnosed.http://www.jsava.co.zaam2017Companion Animal Clinical StudiesParaclinical Science

Clinical and pharmacokinetic effects of regional or general anaesthesia on intravenous regional limb perfusion with amikacin in horses

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY : Antimicrobial i.v. regional limb perfusion (IV-RLP) is clinically performed on anaesthetised or sedated horses with or without regional anaesthesia. To date, no scientific data are available on the clinical and pharmacokinetic effects of these anaesthetic protocols on antimicrobial IV-RLP, which is believed to result in better tourniquet efficiency due to decreased movement. OBJECTIVE : To determine the effects of regional or general anaesthesia on the clinical and synovial pharmacokinetic parameters of amikacin administered by IV-RLP to horses. STUDY DESIGN : Experimental crossover study. METHODS : Eight healthy horses received 4 treatments of amikacin IV-RLP in a randomised, blinded, crossover design: standing sedation without regional anaesthesia (CNT); standing sedation with i.v. regional anaesthesia; standing sedation with perineural regional anaesthesia (PNA); or general anaesthesia. Synovial fluid amikacin concentrations were measured over 24 h and regional pharmacokinetic parameters calculated. Heart and respiratory rates, visual analogue scale of discomfort, number of times the limb was lifted and number of additional sedations administered were recorded. Analysis of variance crossover analysis was applied with significance level at P<0.05. RESULTS : Amikacin concentrations and regional pharmacokinetic parameters did not differ significantly among treatments. Visual analogue scores (mean ± s.d.) were significantly lower with PNA (19 ± 15) vs. i.v. regional anaesthesia (69 ± 36) or CNT (81 ± 13; P<0.001). Significantly less lifting of the limb (mean ± s.d.) occurred with PNA (20 ± 20) vs. CNT (54 ± 22; P<0.04). CONCLUSIONS : Perineural regional anaesthesia before IV-RLP was most effective in providing comfort to standing, sedated horses without significantly affecting the regional pharmacokinetic parameters of amikacin. High variability of synovial amikacin concentrations was present. The use of general anaesthesia for IV-RLP is not justified based on this study.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1001/(ISSN)2042-3306hb201

Severe hindlimb lameness and pathological femur fracture in a horse secondary to haemangiosarcoma

An 18-year-old Warmblood stallion was presented for an acute onset nonweightbearing right hindlimb lameness following a mild lameness of 2 weeks' duration. Severe swelling was present in the right femoral area. Despite extensive diagnostic procedures, no definitive diagnosis could be made. Packed red cell volume was persistently low. The horse improved with supportive treatment and was discharged at the owner's request. The horse presented 4 days later for bleeding from a previously made incision on the lateral femoral area. Due to deterioration of his condition, the stallion was subjected to euthanasia. Diagnosis of disseminated haemangiosarcoma, affecting primarily the hindlimb musculature and leading to pathological fracture of the femur was made at necropsy and subsequent histopathology.http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1001/(ISSN)2042-32922015-10-31hb201

Clinical findings, synovial fluid cytology and growth factor concentrations after intra-articular use of a platelet-rich product in horses with osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis is a common cause of lameness in horses, resulting in poor performance. Intraarticular platelet-rich plasma can deliver a collection of bioactive molecules, such as autologous growth factors and proteins involved in the quality of tissue repair. Horses (n=5) with osteoarthritis affecting antebrachiocarpal, middle carpal or metacarpophalangeal joints, and horses (n=5) without osteoarthritis of the corresponding joints (radiographically free of osteoarthritis), were used for the production of platelet-rich plasma which was subsequently injected into selected joints. Clinical and synovial fluid changes after intra-articular injection of platelet-rich plasma as well as synovial platelet-derived growth factor-BB and transforming growth factor-beta 1 concentration changes were evaluated in these joints and compared between normal joints and joints with osteoarthritis. A gravity filtration system produced a moderately concentrated platelet-rich plasma, representing a 4.7-fold increase in baseline platelet concentration. The synovial effusion score was significantly different between the control joints and joints with osteoarthritis on Day 0 with a higher score in the group with osteoarthritis. Within the control group, the synovial effusion score was significantly higher on Days 1 and 2 compared to Day 0. For both groups, the synovial fluid nucleated cell count, predominantly intact neutrophils, was significantly increased on Days 1 and 2, with no significant difference between groups. The mean synovial platelet-derived growth factor-BB and transforming growth factor-beta 1 concentrations were increased for both groups but significantly lowered in the group with osteoarthritis on Day 1 compared to normal joints. Concentrations for platelet-derived growth factor-BB remained unchanged on Day 5, compared to Day 1, with no significant difference between groups. In conclusion, intra-articular treatment with platelet-rich plasma resulted in increased synovial growth factor concentrations in joints but with lower concentrations in joints with osteoarthritis. A transient inflammatory reaction was seen both clinically as an increase in synovial effusion and cytologically in both normal joints and joints with osteoarthritis.The article is based on the thesis of author Yolandi Smit, ‘Clinical signs synovial fluid cytology and growth factor concentrations after intra-articular use of a platelet-rich product in horses with osteoarthritis’ available at https://repository.up.ac.za/handle/2263/67909 (URI: http://hdl.handle.net/2263/67909).The article processing fee has been partially funded by the South African Veterinary Association.The V-PET™ systems were sponsored by the manufacturer Pall Corporation, United States.http://www.jsava.co.zaam2019Companion Animal Clinical StudiesProduction Animal Studie