Case Studies Flashcards
What are some of the signs and symptoms of anaemia?
Yellow tacky mucous membranes, lethargic, galloping pulse, high respiratory rate
With a bounding pulse what is going on?
CO may be increased. Peripheral resistance is lower compared to normal. There is a larger difference between systolic and diastolic blood pressure
What causes icterus (jaundice)?
Increased RBC destruction, a bile duct obstruction, end stage liver cirrhosis
What can lead to bilirubin?
Increased destruction of RBCs, Biliary stasis, reduced functional hepatic mass, pancreatitis, hepatic neoplasia
In Harriet’s case, what is likely to have caused the icterus?
Increased destruction of RBCs
What occurs with IMHA?
IMHA antibodies are deposited on the surface of RBCs, antibody may be directed against the RBC proteins or against drug or viral antigens bound to RBC, which results in a type II hypersensitivity response, deposition of antibodies results in the lysis of RBCs by complement and phagocytosis, this results in greatly reduced RBC lifespan and the body’s response by increasing RBC production (regenerative response)
What does deposition of antibodies on RBCs also cause?
Agglutination (or rouleaux formation is common in horses and cats)
How do spherocytes form?
Damage from the antibody can result in a change in conformation–> normal biconcave appearance is altered and they become spherocytes
What is a Coombs test?
Looks for antibodies directed against RBCs
What are the two treatments for Harriet?
Blood transfusion and immunosuppressive treatment
What is stridor?
Shrill, harsh sound heard during inspiration in the case of a laryngeal obstruction (can cause whistling)
What is stertor?
Snoring, sonorous respiration usually due to a partial obstruction of the upper airway (roaring- made by air passing through a stenosed larynx- usually from laryngeal hemiplegia in the horse)
Why does expiration occur as the leading leg hits the ground at a canter and gallop?
Because impaction of the abdominal viscera on the diaphragm, flexion of the neck as the forelimbs hit the ground, transmission of force to the chest as the forelimbs strike the ground
What is recurrent laryngeal hemiplegia?
One side of the larynx is completely paralyzed (usually left). Degeneration of the recurrent laryngeal nerve that innervates the intrinsic muscles of the larynx. At exercise, negative pressure during inspiration pulls the paralysed left arytenoid cartilage into the laryngeal lumen, causing reduced airflow and turbulence (results in a noise)-whistle or roar
What is Hobday’s procedure?
removal of laryngeal ventricles and removal of vocal cords- in horses that don’t need to perform strenuously
In a horse that does need to perform strenuously, what is done?
ventriculectomy and laryngeal tieback procedure.
Which muscle abducts the larynx?
Dorsal Cricoarytenoideus muscle
Why is it likely that the left side is impacted and not the right commonly?
Left recurrent laryngeal nerve is longer than the right- it comes out of the brain stem with the vagus, around the base of the heart, and all the way back up to the larynx (a couple of meters long)
What is significant about the cricothyroideus muscle?
The only muscle not innervated by the laryngeal nerve in the larynx
If you halve the lumen of a tube, what are you doing to the flow?
Flow is reduced to 1/16th of the normal flow!!
During inspiration, what is the pressure like in the thorax?
Negative
What is alveolar dead space?
Volume compromising non-functional alveoli due to absent or poor blood flow
What is alveolar ventilation?
Amount of new air reaching the areas of gas exchange each minute (inspired gas minus dead space)
What is anatomic dead space?
Volume of conducting airways where no gas exchange can occur
What is apparatus dead space?
Volume of dead space contributed by an external breathing apparatus
What is hypercapnoea?
Abnormally high CO2 in the blood
Why is hyperventilation?
Increase in minute volume beyond what is necessary to maintain normal PO2
What is hypoventilation?
Abnormal retention of CO2 from insufficient airflow to the lungs
What is hypoxaemia?
Abnormally low PO2 in the blood
What is hypoxia?
Inadequate oxygen supply to the tissues
What is the minute volume?
Amount of air inspired or expired in a minute
What is tidal volume?
Amount of air inspired or expired with each normal breath
What is PO2 in the alveolar gas determined by?
Rate of uptake of O2 into the blood and rate of delivery of new O2 in the lungs by ventilation