Management of the Post-Operative Colic

Question 1

what NSAIDs can we prescribe to horses?

Answer 1

banamine
phenylbutazone
ketoprofen

Question 2

what are the effects of banamine?

Answer 2

analgesic
anti-inflammatory
anti-endotoxic
good for visceral pain

Question 3

what are the side effects of NSAIDs?

Answer 3

gastric ulceration
nephrotoxicity
delayed mucosal healing

Question 4

what is dimethyl sulfoxide?

Answer 4

free radical scavenger
may help reduce bowel edema and adhesion formation

Question 5

what are the complications of antibiotics?

Answer 5

diarrhea
toxic effects
bacterial resistance

Question 6

which horses require special considerations with dietary management after a colic?

Answer 6

neonates
obese ponies
pregnant mares

Question 7

what are the differentials for fever?

Answer 7

incisional infection
catheter site infection
peritonitis
colitis/salmonella
pneumonia

Question 8

what are the clinical signs with an incisional infection?

Answer 8

incisional drainage
fever
sensitivity to palpation
dehiscence

Question 9

what are maintenance fluids for adult horses?

Answer 9

60 ml/kg/day

Question 10

what is ileus?

Answer 10

lack of small intestinal motility

Question 11

when do adhesions often manifest?

Answer 11

10-14 days post-operatively usually
do not always manifest

Question 12

how does heparin help with adhesions?

Answer 12

enhance activity of AT III (blocks prothrombin to thrombin and fibrinogen to fibrin)
fibrinolytic activity

Question 13

what are the clinical signs of endotoxemia?

Answer 13

fever
injected mucous membranes
increased PCV with decreased TS
digital pulses
increased heart rate
decreased intestinal motility

Question 14

how can you diagnose septic peritonitis?

Answer 14

cytology
culture

Question 15

what are the side effects of NSAIDs?

Answer 15

gastric ulceration
nephrotoxicity
delayed mucosal healing

Question 16

what are the effects of butorphanol?

Answer 16

potent analgesic
not anti-inflammatory
decreases GI motility

Question 17

how long should antibiotics be prescribed?

Answer 17

minumum 3 days

Question 18

how long should simple colics be kept off food?

Answer 18

12-24 hours
no water 6-12 hours

Question 19

how long should complicated colics be kept off water and food?

Answer 19

water 24-48 hours
food 48 hours

Question 20

what is maintenance for foals?

Answer 20

90 ml/kg/day

Question 21

how can you monitor patients on intravenous fluids?

Answer 21

heart rate/CRT
PCV/TS
nova/chemistry

Question 22

what are some fluid supplements?

Answer 22

KCl
Mg and Ca
glucose

Question 23

what are the differentials for ileus?

Answer 23

primary small intestinal lesion
complications with anastomosis

Question 24

what is the most commonly used drug for ileus?

Answer 24

lidocaine

Question 25

what are the predisposing factors for adhesions?

Answer 25

ischemia
serosal trauma
infection
foreign bodies

Question 26

what is endotoxemia?

Answer 26

complicated physiologic cascade mediated by lipid-A component of cell membrane of gram negative bacteria

Question 27

how can you prevent endotoxemia?

Answer 27

polymyxin B
hyperimmune plasma
anti-endotoxin serum