Laparotomy during winter and summer months was associated with increased likelihood of SSI but there was no effect of surgery performed outside normal working hours. This information assists in identifying horses at high risk of SSI and informing development of preventive strategies.

SummaryThis report describes two cases of successful surgical management of granulosa cell tumours (GCT) in mares presenting with haemoperitoneum (HP). Controlled abdominal drainage was initially attempted in Case 1 but was not successful. A ventral midline exploratory laparotomy allowed removal of a haemorrhaging 13 kg GCT. The mare made a full recovery and returned to normal work as a driving pony 11 months post-operatively. In Case 2 controlled abdominal drainage was followed by standing left flank laparoscopic visualisation of the bleeding ovary and transection of the ovarian pedicle by electrocautery. The GCT was then removed via a ventral midline incision due to its large size. Haemoperitoneum can be associated with GCTs and in some cases is severe enough to prompt emergency treatment. Stabilisation of the patient and removal of the haemorrhaging GCT can lead to a successful outcome.

Background: Left atrial size predicts cardiac morbidity and mortality in humans and dogs. Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (3DE) may be reliable for assessing left atrial volume (LAV) in horses.Objectives: To determine intra-and interobserver variability estimates of 3DE-LAV and compare it to that of 2DE-LAV estimates. Study design: Method comparison.Methods: 3DE datasets were obtained from 40 horses, then graded for quality, creating a final study population of 22 horses. The 3DE and 2DE maximum LAV (LAV max ) and minimum LAV (LAV min ) were measured, and left atrial emptying volume (LA EV) and left atrial ejection fraction (LA EF) were calculated, from the same 3D dataset on four occasions using (a) a semi-automatic surface recognition algorithm and (b) a modified Simpson's method of discs. 3DE LAV measurements were repeated by a second observer.Results: For 3DE, median LAV max was 596cm 3 for observer one, and 852 cm 3 for observer two, LAV min was 373 cm 3 for observer one and 533 cm 3 for observer two.Low intraobserver measurement variation was observed for LAV max and LAV min , with horse-level intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC horse ) for both observers between 76% and 85% (horse added as random effect). The interobserver ICC was 58% for LAV max and 50% for LAV min on averaged measurements (with observer added as random effect), indicating consistent differences between observers. While intraobserver variation was similar for 2DE LAV max measurements, it was greater for LAV min (ICC horse = 67%). The intermethod ICC for 3DE vs 2DE was low at 14% for LAV max and ~0% for LAV min , indicating less-consistent differences with method.Main limitations: Small study population, low observer number, use of different imaging modalities (fundamental frequency and octave harmonics).Conclusions: 3DE assessment of LAV was reliable, suggesting suitability for longitudinal evaluation of clinical cases. Clinicians should be aware of differences in LAV measurements between observers. More defined measurement guidelines may improve repeatability.