Equine veterinary journal
-
Equine veterinary journal · Mar 2012
Close, impinging and overriding spinous processes in the thoracolumbar spine: the relationship between radiological and scintigraphic findings and clinical signs.
There has been no objective study comparing radiological features of spinous processes (SPs) in the thoracolumbar region and/or scintigraphic findings with clinical signs. ⋯ Fore- or hindlimb lameness and/or pain associated with the sacroiliac joints could mimic primary thoracolumbar pain. A combination of radiology and scintigraphy gives the most accurate prediction of thoracolumbar pain, but diagnostic analgesia is crucial for accurate diagnosis.
-
Equine veterinary journal · Nov 2011
Randomized Controlled TrialEffects of constant rate infusion of lidocaine and ketamine, with or without morphine, on isoflurane MAC in horses.
Lidocaine and ketamine are administered to horses as a constant rate infusion (CRI) during inhalation anaesthesia to reduce anaesthetic requirements. Morphine decreases the minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) in some domestic animals; when administered as a CRI in horses, morphine does not promote haemodynamic and ventilatory changes and exerts a positive effect on recovery. Isoflurane-sparing effect of lidocaine, ketamine and morphine coadministration has been evaluated in small animals but not in horses. ⋯ Administration of lidocaine and ketamine via CRI decreases isoflurane requirements. Coadministration of morphine does not provide further reduction in anaesthetic requirements and does not impair recovery.
-
Equine veterinary journal · Nov 2011
Use of gastric balloon manometry for estimation of intra-abdominal pressure in horses.
Standing laparoscopic procedures, facilitated by abdominal insufflation with carbon dioxide, are being employed to an increasingly greater extent in horses. However, a sustained increase in abdominal pressure may be life-threatening. A practical method for intra-abdominal pressure (IAP) assessment is imperative. Although indirect methods for estimating IAP have been extensively studied in man, little work has been performed in veterinary medicine. ⋯ Our results suggest that the indirect method used in human patients for estimating IAP by P(ga) is not applicable for horses.
-
Equine veterinary journal · Jul 2011
Observer agreement study of cervical-vertebral ratios in horses.
Different examiners or the same examiner were observed at different times producing slightly different results when obtaining cervical-vertebral ratios. If the difference is substantial, then measurement variability would have an important impact of radiographic interpretation. ⋯ When using cervical-vertebral ratios in practice, the impact of measurement agreement should be factored into the interpretation of the test result because measurement variability may lead to misdiagnosis and limit the clinical usefulness of these tests.
-
Equine veterinary journal · Jul 2011
Comparative StudyComparison between blood serum and salivary cortisol concentrations in horses using an adrenocorticotropic hormone challenge.
In horses, serum cortisol concentration is considered to provide an indirect measurement of stress. However, it includes both free and bound fractions. The sampling method is also invasive and often stressful. This is not the case for salivary cortisol, which is collected using a more welfare-friendly method and represents a part of the free cortisol fraction, which is the biologically active form. ⋯ The reliability of both RIAs and regression found between serum and salivary cortisol concentrations permits the validation of saliva-sampling as a noninvasive technique for cortisol level assessment in horses.