The effect of a compression bandage on the distribution of radiodense contrast medium after palmar digital nerve blocks.

BACKGROUND: Studies have shown proximal diffusion of injected drugs in perineural blocks; such diffusion may affect specificity of the nerve block. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effect of a compression bandage applied to the pastern region on proximal diffusion of contrast medium injected over the palmar digital nerves. STUDY DESIGN: Experimental study, randomised cross-over design. METHODS: Radiodense contrast medium was injected over the lateral and medial palmar digital nerves of the left front limb of nine mature horses. Each horse was injected on two separate occasions, once with a 5 cm wide compression bandage applied proximal to the injection site and once without. The order of the two treatments was randomised with a wash-out period between treatments of at least 7 days. Radiographs were obtained at 5, 10, 20 and 30 min and distribution of the contrast column assessed. RESULTS: Proximal distribution of the contrast medium was significantly reduced (P<0.01) with compression bandage. Furthermore, the compression bandage inhibited lymphatic drainage of the injected contrast medium. MAIN LIMITATIONS: Clinical effect of the differences in diffusion length was not assessed. CONCLUSIONS: The compression bandage reduced proximal diffusion and lymphatic drainage of contrast material causing it to stay localised around the injection site. Use of compression bandages could thus result in increased specificity of the nerve block and potentially prolong its effect.

Physiological parameters of endurance horses pre- compared to post-race, correlated with performance: a two race study from scandinavia.

Few studies have investigated the physiological parameters of endurance horses in Scandinavia. Hence, this two race study has focused on the effects of endurance racing in terms of equine clinicopathological blood parameters, heart score, and fluid use. Race A involved 15 horses (120 km). Two pre- and one post-race blood samples were taken, body condition score was assessed in triplicate pre-race, and an ECG was used to determine heart score. Race B involved 16 horses (65-120 km). One pre- and two post-race blood samples were taken. For both races, horse data as well as fluid intake estimates and cooling water were noted. Race A showed that blood haematocrit, albumin, sodium, and triglycerides increased significantly with endurance racing, whilst chloride, glucose, iron, and potassium decreased significantly. In race B, blood creatinine, cholesterol, and inorganic phosphate continued to increase significantly during the first post-race sampling period compared to pre-race levels, whilst iron, which decreased significantly during the race, increased significantly over the two post-race sampling periods. It is concluded that whilst no correlation between heart score and speed was observed, a significant correlation exists between experience and changes in blood parameters with endurance racing and between fluid intake and average speed.

Effect of a stent bandage on the likelihood of incisional infection following exploratory coeliotomy for colic in horses: a comparative retrospective study.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: Incisional infections are common in horses after colic surgery. There is a clinical impression that the use of a stent bandage reduces the prevalence of such infections. OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of a stent bandage on the likelihood of incisional infection after ventral midline exploratory coeliotomy. It was hypothesised that the use of a stent bandage would reduce the likelihood of incisional infection. METHODS: Medical records of horses that underwent exploratory coeliotomy for colic between January 2005 and September 2011 were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were animals that had one ventral midline coeliotomy and had survived at least 10 days after surgery. Horses were categorised into 2 groups:no-stent group and stent group. The following data were collected for each case: age, sex, weight, heart rate, packed cell volume, primary lesion, performance of an enterotomy or intestinal resection, surgical classification, use of local antimicrobials, duration of surgery, intra-abdominal administration of sodium carboxymethylcellulose, intravenous administration of lidocaine, surgeon, use of a stent bandage, duration of stent use, and use of a belly band. Factors associated with the outcome measure 'wound infection' vs. 'no wound infection' were analysed using a generalised linear mixed model for logistic regression with surgeon as a random effect. RESULTS: The inclusion criteria were met in 130 horses: 55 were assigned to the no-stent group and 75 to the stent group. In the no-stent group, 12 (21.8%) horses developed incisional infections, whereas only 2 horses (2.7%) in the stent group had incisional infections. In the stent group, no incisional infections were observed during the last 20 months of the study. Statistical analysis showed that only the effect of the use of a stent bandage was significant (P = 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of incisional infections when a stent bandage was used was 2.7%, a finding that compared favourably to information in the literature. Use of a stent bandage significantly reduced the likelihood of incisional infections. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: A stent bandage would reduce the likelihood of incisional infection in horses undergoing exploratory coeliotomy for colic.

Sporting activity following colic surgery in horses: a retrospective study.

REASONS FOR PERFORMING STUDY: There is a paucity of studies addressing sporting activity and horse owners' satisfaction after horses have undergone colic surgery. OBJECTIVES: To determine 1) survival rate after colic surgery, 2) prevalence of horses returning to, or starting, sporting activities and 3) assess the owners' satisfaction regarding colic surgery. METHODS: Cases that underwent exploratory celiotomy for colic between January 2005 and August 2010 were reviewed. All horses that had one or more celiotomies and were discharged after colic surgery were included in a telephone questionnaire survey. Only horses that survived at least 6 months after colic surgery were included in the sporting activity analysis. Data extracted from the records included case details, intra-operative diagnosis and surgical treatment. Information from a telephone questionnaire included the horses' post surgical details (horse alive or subjected to euthanasia, post operative complications, pre- and post surgical use, return to sporting activity, sporting performance, behavioural changes, management changes and recommendation by owner for colic surgery). A logistic regression model was used for the statistical analysis of post hospitalisation performance and an ordinal regression model used for analysis of post colic complications and of owner's recommendation of surgery. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was computed to show survival of horses discharged after colic surgery. RESULTS: The survival rates (%) at 6, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months were 95.3, 86.6, 80.9, 76.9, 62.1 and 57.6, respectively. A large majority of horses (86.1%) resumed or started sporting activities after colic surgery. The proportion of horses that the owners believed to achieve the same or better performance after surgery was 83.5%. In 89.9% of the cases, owners stated that they would recommend colic surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Horses discharged after colic surgery had a high long-term survival rate. A high prevalence of horses resumed or started sporting activities with a high proportion of horses at their presurgical performance level. The large majority of owners of discharged horses were satisfied with colic surgery performed on their horses.