Endocarditis and pericarditis Flashcards
List the viral diseases that can cause pericarditis in horses
equine viral arteritis
equine influenza
List the bacterial diseases that can cause pericarditis in horses
Strep.pneumoniae
E.coli,
Actinobacillus
What is the drug of choice when treating pericarditis in horses
penicillin
List the clinical signs associated with pericaritis in horses
they occur secondary to RHF
Venous distension
Ventral oedema
Muffled heart sounds
Pericardial friction rubs on ausultation
Pleural effusion
Describe how to diagnose pericarditis in horses
echocardiography
ECG
cytology of pericardial fluid- differential between viral/bacterial causes
what do you see on echocardiography in horse with pericarditis
Fluid and fibrin in pericardial sac
Compression of cardiac chambers
Describe how to treat pericarditis in horses
Pericardial drainage and lavage are indicated if the right atrium is collapsing
Indwelling drain and twice daily lavage with antibiotic containing fluids greatly improves prognosis
Describe the prognosis of a horse with pericarditis
Good provided treatment is early and aggressive
Constrictive disease may occur in chronic cases
Can return to full performance
what is the cause of the majority of pericarditis cases in horses
idiopathic
What normally occurs in pericarditis cases when we treat with penicillin
a fibrinous effusion
what do we see on ECG in pericarditis cases
small complexes
why do we want IVFT to be given slowly in pericarditis cases
if it is given too fast, we can overload the heart
