Albertine

Albin

Bradbury

Butler

Caporelli

Cheng

Flanagan

Gordy

Holbrook

Hulst

Lapolla

Mitchell

Murphy

Mushkat

Nims

Ohkuda

Pellegrini-Masini

Pinho

Raposo

Romagnoli

Sacks

Souders

Sundboll

Taylor

Wang

Warren

Wosko

Yesilaras

Zuliani

Parkinson, N J

McKenzie, H C

Barton, M H

Davis, J L

Dunkel, B

Johnson, A L

MacDonald, E S

RVC Repository (Royal Veterinary College)

Catheter-associated venous air embolism in hospitalized horses: 32 cases

RVC Research Online

English

BackgroundVenous air embolism is a potentially life-threatening complication of IV catheter use in horses. Despite widespread anecdotal reports of their occurrence, few cases have been reported in the literature and the prognosis is currently unknown.Hypothesis / ObjectivesOur objective was to describe the surrounding circumstances, clinical signs, treatment, progression and outcome of venous air embolism in hospitalized horses.AnimalsThirty-two horses with acute onset of compatible clinical signs associated with IV catheter disconnection or damage.MethodsMulticenter retrospective study. Data extracted from clinical records included signalment, presenting complaint, catheter details, clinical signs, treatments and outcome. ResultsMost cases resulted from extension set disconnection occurring within approximately 24 hours after catheter placement. In fewer horses, extension set damage was cited as a cause. Common clinical signs included tachycardia, tachypnea, recumbency, muscle fasciculations and agitation, with abnormal behavior including kicking and flank biting. Less commonly, pathological arrhythmias or more severe neurologic signs, including blindness and seizures, were noted. Progression was unpredictable, with some affected horses developing delayed-onset neurologic signs. Mortality was 6/32 (19%), including 2 cases of sudden death and other horses euthanized because of persistent neurologic deficits. Negative outcomes were more common in horses with recorded blindness, sweating or recumbency, but blindness resolved in 5/8 affected horses. Conclusions and clinical importanceThe prognosis for resolution of clinical signs after air embolism is fair, but permanent neurologic deficits or pathologic cardiac arrhythmias can arise. Unpredictable progression warrants close monitoring. Systematic clinic-based surveillance could provide additional useful information to aid prevention.<br/

Parkinson, Nicholas

McKenzie, Harold

Barton, Michelle

Davis, Jennifer

Dunkel, Bettina

Johnson, Amy

MacDonald, Elisabeth

Edinburgh Research Explorer

Nicholas J. Parkinson

Harold C. McKenzie

Michelle H. Barton

Jennifer L. Davis

Bettina Dunkel

Amy L. Johnson

Elizabeth S. MacDonald

Crossref

Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine

https://www.pure.ed.ac.uk/ws/files/55857940/Parkinson_et_al_2018_Journal_of_Veterinary_Internal_Medicine.pdf

Catheter-associated venous air embolism in hospitalized horses: 32 cases

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RVC Repository (Royal Veterinary College)

RVC Research Online

Edinburgh Research Explorer

Crossref