The Veterinary clinics of North America. Equine practice
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Although not common in horses, fire and smoke inhalation trauma may require veterinary assistance at several levels. Most commonly, the equine clinician is called on to provide care of potentially complex and emotionally charged cases. ⋯ Further complications of severely affected patients are varied and include life-threatening sepsis. This article reviews some of the important features of this type of trauma.
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The emergency clinician is frequently in the position of receiving, evaluating, and initiating treatment on horses with ophthalmic emergencies or orbital trauma. In the best of circumstances, an ophthalmologist is available to guide initial therapy and ultimately assume responsibility for the management of the patient during the remainder of its hospitalization, but this is not always the case. ⋯ The article provides initial information regarding prognosis, descriptions of indicated diagnostics and procedures that may need to be performed on an emergency basis, and suggestions regarding early therapy. Whenever possible, the management of such cases should be overseen or assumed by a veterinary ophthalmologist after the emergent stabilization of the patient.
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Thoracic trauma represents an important cause of morbidity in mortality after injury in human beings and animals. After any form of suspected chest wall trauma, initial emergency management should include assurance of a patent airway and adequate ventilation, along with treatment for shock if present. ⋯ Types of trauma to the thoracic region of the horse include pectoral and axillary lacerations, penetrating chest wounds, flail chest, fractures of the ribs, blunt thoracic trauma, and several potential sequelae that include pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, hemothorax, pleuritis, fistulae of the sternum or ribs, and diaphragmatic hernia. Emergency management of these various forms of thoracic trauma is discussed.