An 8-hour-old Andalusian colt was referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Cordoba due to weakness, lateral recumbence, diarrhoea and absent sucking reflex. At admission the foal was obnubilated, with cold limbs, pale mucous membranes, tachycardia and diarrhoea. Laboratory results revealed increased hematocrit and total protein concentration, hyperfibrinogenemia, leukopenia, azoetemia, hypertrygliceridemia and a decreased IgG level. A diagnose of failure of passive transfer of immunoglobulins and hyperlipaemia was made. On the third day of hospitalization the foal presented painful and swollen joints, abdominal distension and fever. The ultrasonographic study at this point showed abundant hypoechogenic free fluid content in the peritoneal cavity. Abdominocentesis demonstrated a high peritoneal creatinine:serum creatinine ratio. Culture of the peritoneal fluid was Clostridium spp. positive. Necropsy revealed a tear in the internal umbilical remnant. The final diagnosis was uroperitoneum secondary to rupture of the urachus associated with a Clostridium spp. infection. New emerging aetiologies responsible for uroperitoneum, either by septic urachitis or omphalophlebitis, are emerging. Nonetheless, cases of uroperitoneum induced by Clostridium spp. infection are rare and constitute a new and important finding for equine neonatal medicine. In addition, the hyperlipaemic status in this animal could be a plausible cause leading to septicemia and subsequent uroperitoneum.
A foal with a history of diarrhea and fever was presented to the Equine Clinic of the University of Cordoba for acute onset of abundant serous nasal discharge. On endoscopic examination the oesophagus was found to be atonic and ulcerated, the cardia was permanently open and the stomach showed extensive ulceration. In addition, the nasal discharge was identified to have a gastric origin (gastroesophageal reflux). The electrolyte and acid-base profiles showed marked hyponatremia (99 mEq/l) and metabolic alkalosis (pH = 7.46, Strong Ion Difference = 50 mEq/l). The foal was also uremic (plasma creatinine = 12.6 mg/dl). Although the foal experienced an improvement in its hydroelectrolytic status after treatment with 7.5% NaCl for 36 h, the owner requested euthanasia. The foal described here developed severe hyponatremia and hyposmolarity but, contrary to most reported cases, showed metabolic alkalosis instead of metabolic acidosis. Another interesting feature of this case is the lack of overt neurologic signs in the face of extreme hyposmolarity. The paucity of neurologic signs in this foal may have been influenced by slow instauration of hyponatremia, concurrent azotemia, or acid-base status.
The Agile® capsule has shown to be useful when evaluating the patency of the small bowel in patients prior to capsule endoscopy studies. It is a safe tool and a low rate of complications have been reported, highlighting symptomatic retention, although references in literature are scarce and it is only observed in 1.2% of the procedures. We present the case of a symptomatic retention of this device in a patient with previously known colonic Crohn's disease in who a small bowel study was indicated and was sent for prior patency test.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.