Equine Wound Management & Surgical Procedures

Standing

Are standing or recumbent procedures most common for horses?

Standing

Are standing or recumbent procedures in the patient's best interest if possible?

Abrasions

What type of wound is partially thick, can be large, become quite contaminated, but do not fully penetrate all the layers of the skin?

Abrasions

What type of wound are road rash and scraped knees?

Puncture wounds

What type of wound is caused by penetration with foreign objects and are narrow in diameter relative to their depth?

Puncture wounds

What type of wound are caused by nails, tree branches, or pieces of wire?

Lacerations

What type of wound is full thickness, transects the skin completely, and often extends into underlying tissues?

Standing

Are standing or recumbent surgeries less expensive?

Sick, debilitated, elderly, and history of problems under general anesthesia

What signalments are standing surgeries beneficial for?

- Surgeon comfort

- Surgeon's visualization of the surgical field

- Difficult to maintain sterile field

- Patient can move

What are four drawbacks of standing surgery?

12 hours

How long is grain withheld for standing surgery?

2-6 hours

How long is hay withheld for standing surgery?

Not withheld

How long is water withheld for standing surgery?

Castration

What is the surgical removal of the testicles?

- Reduces or prevents sexual and aggressive behavior

- Prevents reproduction by individuals judged to have inferior or undesirable genetic traits

- Treats certain malignancies, testicular trauma, or inguinal or scrotal hernias

Why castration?

Halter, lead, stock, nerve blocks, field blocks, epidural anesthesia

What restraint is used for standing surgery?

Intercoccygeal space

Where is epidural anesthesia administered?

Fully descended

Are fully descended testicles needed for castration, or can it be performed if the patient is cryptorchid?

No

Should cryptorchid testicles be left in?

6-24 months

What age is castration usually performed at?

- Tranquilizers

- Local anesthetics

What anesthetics can be used for standing castration?

Into testicles and spermatic cord using a long 18-20 G needle

How are local anesthetics administered for standing castration?

- Ketamine-xylazine

- Ketamine

- Thiopental

What anesthetics can be used for recumbent castration?

Legs tied or held out of the way

How are legs restrained for recumbent castration?

Head held down, may put towel over eyes

How is the head restrained for recumbent castration?

No

Is clipping or shaving necessary for castration?

Yes

Is scrubbing the surgical area necessary for castration?

Only through scrotum

Where is the incision made for a closed castration?

Closed castration

Which type of castration has a greater chance that a vessel will emasculate improperly and result in more bleeding?

Over each testicle

Where is the incision made for an open castration?

Flies

Control of what pest is important for post-op castration care?

Yes

Do geldings need to be separated from other horses until healed following castration?

No

Are medications needed for post-op castration care?

- Severe hemorrhaging

- Excessive swelling from inadequate drainage

- Acute wound infection and septicemia

- Protrusion of abdominal viscera

- Persistent masculine behavior

What are five complications from castration?

Caslick

What is the surgical procedure that prevents involuntary aspiration of air into the vagina?

Pneumovagina repair

What is another name for caslick?

Standing

In what position are caslick procedures performed in?

7-10 days

How long post-op from caslick should sutures be removed?

- Sutures may tear out

- Too much tissue can be removed

- Must be opened before parturition or breeding

What are three complications of caslick?

Compartment syndrome

What risk of general anesthesia involves increased tissue pressure within a closed fascial space, resulting in tissue ischemia?

Isoflurane gas

In what form is general anesthesia administered for foals?

- Orotracheal

- Nasotracheal

- Tracheotomy

What are three intubation methods for general anesthesia?

Down lung

What may partially collapse when rolling the patient?

99-101.5 degrees F

What is the normal temperature for healthy horses?

28-44 bpm

What is the normal pulse rate for healthy horses?

6-12 bpm

What is the normal respiratory rate for healthy horses?

<2 sec

What is the normal capillary refill time for healthy horses?

Pink

What is the normal mucous membrane color for healthy horses?

Lateral recumbency

In what position do patients recover from general anesthesia?

Water

What should be provided first after general anesthesia?

Attempts to swallow are made

When should the patient be extubated after being under general anesthesia?

Felines

What species are equine erythrocytes about the same size as?

No

Do equine erythrocytes have a central pallor?

140-150 days

What is the erythrocyte lifespan of equine?