Equine veterinary journal
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Equine veterinary journal · Mar 2016
Multicenter StudyAssociation of aldosterone and arginine vasopressin concentrations and clinical markers of hypoperfusion in neonatal foals.
Critically ill foals often present to veterinary hospitals with impaired organ perfusion which can be demonstrated by increased blood L-lactate concentrations. As a compensatory mechanism to low blood pressure and electrolyte abnormalities, aldosterone and arginine vasopressin (AVP) are released to restore organ perfusion and function. Several studies have investigated the ability of blood L-lactate concentrations to predict severity of disease and outcome in critically ill human patients, adult horses and foals. However, information on the aldosterone and AVP response to hypoperfusion and its association with L-lactate concentrations in neonatal foals is limited. ⋯ Hyperaldosteronaemia and hypervasopressinaemia as well as hypothermic extremities and increased albumin concentrations are potent predictors of hypoperfusion in hospitalised foals.
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Equine veterinary journal · Mar 2016
Neuromodulation using percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation for the management of trigeminal-mediated headshaking: A safe procedure resulting in medium-term remission in five of seven horses.
There are no consistently safe and effective methods for the treatment of trigeminal-mediated headshaking in horses. In affected horses, the trigeminal nerve is sensitised, appearing to result in neuropathic pain. Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (PENS) therapy is a minimally invasive neuromodulatory treatment used in people to manage neuropathic pain. ⋯ Percutaneous electrical nerve stimulation therapy is a safe, well tolerated, minimally invasive, repeatable management option for trigeminal-mediated headshaking, with encouraging efficacy for amelioration of clinical signs in the short- to medium term.