María Martín-Cuervo

Intra and postoperative assessment of re-sterilised Ligasure Atlas for orchidectomies in horses: clinical study

Horses (n=35) underwent orchidectomy in a single institution with a re-sterilised LSA as sole means of haemostasis. During the surgery, the gross quality of the seal, the stickiness of the forceps to the tissues, bleeding/oozing from the stump and the need for a subsequent application in already severed spermatic cord were assessed for haemostasis quality. After surgery, physical parameters (appearance of the mucous membranes, quality of the peripheral pulse, heart rate, respiratory rate, rectal temperature and blood dripping from the incisions), haematology or packed cell volume and total protein were monitored to assess signs of bleeding or any other condition. For cleanliness and asepsis assessment, signs of surgical infection were recorded. Complications during surgery were mild degree of sticking of the LSA forceps to the tissues and dulling of the blade. There was no need to reapply LSA a second time except in one horse. This means a haemostasis complication rate of 2.85 per cent of the horses. No postoperative bleeding was detected. Only two horses with fever had associated signs of surgical site infection. This means an infection rate of 5.71 per cent of the horses.

Standing Laparoscopic Peritoneal Flap Hernioplasty of the Vaginal Rings does not Modify the Sperm Production and Motility Characteristics in Intact Male Horses

Laparoscopic hernioplasty techniques have been developed in the recent years to avoid the recurrence of inguinal hernias and to spare the testicles for breeding purposes in stallions. However, there have been no previous comprehensive and systematic studies of the reproductive outcomes and prognoses for stallions after inguinal hernioplasty. Therefore, the objective of this study was to assess the possible effects of one of these techniques (standing laparoscopic peritoneal flap hernioplasty) on the sperm production and motility characteristics of six healthy stallions that received this procedure based on 1-year follow-ups. There were no significant differences in the measured sperm variables (assessments based on the DSO, MOT, PMOT, VSL, VCL and VAP) during 1-year follow-ups.

Development of a technique for standing hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy in five horses.

OBJECTIVES To develop an experimental standing hand-assisted laparoscopic splenectomy (HALS) technique, report the associated peri-operative complications and document the short-term surgical outcomes. METHODS AND RESULTS Five healthy 300-470 kg horses that underwent standing HALS. Spleens of different weights (2.25-7.0 kg) were removed using this technique. The main complication during surgery was difficulty sectioning the gastrosplenic ligament. The postoperative complications included adhesions of the colon to the nephrosplenic ligament stump and incisional discharge in two horses. CONCLUSIONS Standing HALS is a feasible experimental procedure for medium-sized horses, which avoids rib excision and general anaesthesia, but requires further development.

Successful use of lipid emulsion to resuscitate a foal after intravenous lidocaine induced cardiovascular collapse

BACKGROUND Lipid emulsion has been reported to be effective for the treatment of local anaesthetic overdoses in rats, dogs and man. OBJECTIVES To describe the successful treatment of cardiovascular lidocaine toxicity in a foal with intravenous lipid administration. STUDY DESIGN Observational study: case report. METHODS An 8-month-old Arabian cross foal was anaesthetised for removal of the right alar fold and nasal plate. Anaesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in oxygen and lidocaine administered with a loading dose followed by a continuous rate infusion (CRI). The anaesthetic period was uneventful and 30 min before expected termination of the procedure lidocaine infusion was stopped. A sudden drop in mean arterial blood pressure was then observed. The ECG signal was lost, the end tidal CO2 tension dropped from 40 to 10 mmHg, corneal reflex was absent and asystole diagnosed. Cardiopulmonary resuscitation manoeuvres were immediately initiated, but epinephrine and atropine were unsuccessfully administered. Lipid emulsion was administered and the heart rate and arterial blood pressure gradually returned to normal. RESULTS The foal recovered consciousness 3 h later, regained its sternal position, was responsive and 20 h later was able to stand up alone. MAIN LIMITATIONS It will be necessary to evaluate a greater number of cases to determine the effectiveness of lipids in foals intoxicated with lidocaine. CONCLUSION Intravenous lipid emulsion may be helpful in the treatment of potentially lethal cardiotoxicity attributable to lidocaine overdose in the foal.

Histological findings in equine testes one year after standing laparoscopic peritoneal flap hernioplasty

In order to know reproduction-related complications due to standing laparoscopic peritoneal flap hernioplasty, histological characteristics of the testicles from five stallions one year after surgery were compared with seven testicles from four healthy stallions. Moreover, the daily sperm output (DSO) was determined before (T0) and one year after surgery (T12). DSO did not show significant differences between T0 and T12. The diameter of the seminiferous tubules was significantly decreased in the samples from the hernioplasty group. The percentage of tubules with full spermatogenesis was smaller in the hernioplasty group, but the difference was not significant. It can be concluded that standing laparoscopic peritoneal flap hernioplasty produced mild histological changes in the testicular parenchyma, epididymis and pampiniform plexus after one year follow-up.

Maxillary osteomyelitis due to Halicephalobus gingivalis and fatal dissemination in a horse

This study reports a rare case of maxillary osteomyelitis in a horse caused by Halicephalobus gingivalis . The horse presented inflammation and pain in the r...

Acute upper airway obstruction due to retropharyngeal hematoma in a dog with Anaplasma species: a case study

BackgroundRetropharyngeal hematoma is a rare condition that is difficult to diagnose and may progress rapidly to airway obstruction. The authors report the first known case of acute upper airway obstruction resulting from retropharyngeal hematoma in a dog. Documented causes in human medicine have included coagulopathic states, trauma, infection, parathyroid adenoma rupture, and foreign body ingestion. Vague symptoms in humans such as sore throat, shortness of breath, dysphonia, dysphagia, and neck swelling may precede lethal airway obstruction.Case presentationThe authors report a case of an 18-month-old, intact female water spaniel with thrombocytopenia that developed a massive retropharyngeal hematoma and symptoms of airway compromise. The dog required tracheal intubation followed by surgical tracheostomy. Lateral cervical radiography and magnetic resonance imaging of the neck was consistent with a retropharyngeal hematoma compromising the airway. The retropharyngeal hematoma was managed conservatively.ConclusionRetropharyngeal hematoma should be considered in patients presenting with abrupt respiratory distress. Magnetic resonance imaging allowed specific diagnosis of a rare condition that is otherwise difficult to diagnose.