Neutrophil Gelatinase-Associated Lipocalin in Synovial Fluid from Horses with and without Septic Arthritis.

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) has been suggested to be a highly sensitive and specific marker of joint infection in humans. The aim of the study was to investigate NGAL concentrations in synovial fluid (SF) from horses with septic synovitis, horses without septic synovitis, and horses with uncertain status. NGAL was measured in 177 admission samples obtained from 152 horses. From a subset of horses (n = 35), additional samples obtained sequentially over the course of treatment were available. Concentrations of NGAL were significantly higher in septic synovitis (n = 47 samples) than in samples classified as non-septic (n = 103) or samples with uncertain status (n = 27), with median NGAL concentrations in the three groups being 1236, 16.8, and 266.4 µg/L, respectively. NGAL discriminated nearly perfectly between septic and non-septic (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve 0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.95-1.00). The optimal cut-off value for maximal sensitivity (87.2%) and specificity (75.0%) to discriminate septic samples from those with uncertain status was 444.6 µg/L, with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of 0.85 (95% confidence interval 0.74-0.93). Concentrations declined over time in horses undergoing treatment. NGAL is a novel biomarker that seems to have great potential for identifying septic synovitis and for monitoring the response to treatment of synovial infection in horses.

Thoracotomy and Pericardiotomy for Access to the Heart in Horses: Surgical Procedure and Effects on Anesthetic Variables.

Thoracotomy is an uncommon procedure in horses but remains essential in a variety of cases of pleuropneumonia, pericarditis, thoracic trauma or diaphragmatic herniation, and for experimental thoracic and cardiac procedures. This study aimed at developing an experimental surgical procedure allowing access to the entire circumference of the heart and describing the effect of thoracotomy on pulmonary gas exchange in these horses. The study consisted of two arms, arm one (undergoing thoracotomy), was a terminal experimental study that included 11 Standardbred horses with experimentally induced (by tachypacing) atrial fibrillation. Arm two consisted of 6 Standardbred horses undergoing anesthesia for reasons unrelated to the present study. These horses functioned as controls. Anesthesia was induced using zolazepam and tiletamine. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane in 100% oxygen and ventilation with intermittent positive pressure (IPPV); no positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) was performed. Rib resection and pericardiotomy were performed for complete exposure of the entire circumference of the heart. Arterial blood samples were collected prior to, 5 and 30 minutes after puncture of pleura parietalis. In 10 horses, resection of the fifth rib was adequate for exposure of the heart. In one horse, removal of the sixth rib was also necessary. The duration of the surgical procedure (thoracotomy, pericardiotomy) was < 45 minutes. During a thoracotomy, PaO2 decreased significantly (P < .05) from 291.8 ± 82.8 mmHg to 165.2 ± 73.5 mmHg but was not different from normal anesthetized controls. The PaCO2 remained within normal limits. This surgical approach provided access to the entire circumference of the heart.

Bidirectional knotless barbed versus conventional smooth suture for closure of surgical wounds in inguinal castration in horses.

BACKGROUND: Castration of the stallion is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures in the horse. Recently barbed suture materials for surgical wound closure were introduced to the market with manufacturers claiming that these sutures enhance speed and security as they eliminate the need to tie knots. Recently, it has been suggested that this type of suture may increase postoperative complications. This study aimed at investigating and comparing a bidirectional absorbable knotless barbed suture (KBS) to a conventional smooth suture (SS) for wound closure of inguinal castrations in the horse. This was done by evaluating short-term and post-discharge complications and by comparing the time spent on suturing the surgical wounds after bilateral inguinal castration, which was performed on 45 horses undergoing castration at The Large Animal Teaching Hospital at University of Copenhagen from September 2017 to May 2019. RESULTS: Short-term complications were few; at 24 h minor swelling occurred in 29 and 33% of horses sutured with KBS and SS respectively and cutaneous dehiscence during recovery occurred in two horses of each group. Post-discharge follow-up revealed that three horses needed veterinary attention for treatment of complications (scrotal swelling (n = 1, KBS); wound exudation (n = 1, SS) and wound dehiscence after return to pasture (n = 1, SS)). Wound closure was achieved 6 min faster with KBS than with SS (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Use of the KBS suture did not result in increased occurrence of postoperative complications. Wound closure was faster with KBS than with SS in equine bilateral inguinal castration. Our results show that KBS can safely be used in the horse following bilateral inguinal castrations without adverse effects and with a reduction in suturing time.