Surgical Complications - LA

Question 1

A horse’s blood voume is roughly __% of its body weight

Answer 1

8 (i.e. 40 L in a 500 kg horse)

Question 2

What is the maximum amount of blood an adult horse (500 kg) can lose at one time?

Answer 2

10 L; >20-25% of circulating blood volume results in severe hypovolemic shock, >50% results in death

Question 3

How much blood can you safely take from a blood donor horse?

Answer 3

20% of circulating blood volume or 1.6% of body weight in kgs (8L for a normal adult)

Question 4

Dehiscence usually develops within how many days after surgery?

Answer 4

8

Question 5

Incisional herniation can develop up to how long after ventral celiotomy?

Answer 5

3 months!

Question 6

What things predispose to incisional hernia?

Answer 6

incisional infection and swelling, post operative endotoxemia and pain, repeated celiotomy and use of chromic gut suture to close abdominal wall

Question 7

In general, surgical herniorrhapy is postponed 4-6 months…why?

Answer 7

to allow resolution of the wound infection and the development of hernia ring fibrosis