The Changing Costs of Hospital Treatment for Colic: A Preliminary Audit

Abstract

6Concurrent proximal suspensory desmopathy and injury of the proximal aspect of the accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon in forelimbs and hindlimbs 19The relationship between foot conformation, foot placement and motion symmetry in the equine hindlimb R. F. AGASS, A. M. WILSON, R. WELLER AND T. PFAU 20The effect of hindlimb studs on movement symmetry in horses during lungeing H. SHARP, T. PFAU AND S. HOPKINS 20The relationship between working equids and women in developing countries Foreword and AcknowledgementsThis supplement contains a diverse selection of abstracts addressing clinical research from many disciplines. Topics that are particularly well represented this year include endocrinology, laminitis, critical care and spinal disease. The only consistent feature is the very high standard. This year, BEVA has devoted an extra two sessions to abstracts, but despite this increased time, the selection process was difficult due to the large number of excellent submissions. Over the last 10 years or so, Clinical Research Abstracts have progressively risen in stature and it is now the go-to place for cutting-edge, clinically relevant information delivered in a concise and highly professional manner. This is where Congress attendees will find the snippets of information to take straight back to practice to effect changes in the way of case management. By publishing this supplement in EVJ, BEVA hopes to make this new and relevant research available to those who have not been able to attend the Congress in person. Perhaps, this supplement will inspire some readers to make the trip next year. This year's BEVA Congress Clinical Research Abstracts have involved a more detailed review process than in the past. Brief reports on the abstracts under consideration were obtained from two peer reviewers before being graded, and ultimately selected by a subset of the Congress Scientific Programme Guardians: Renate Weller, Tim Barnett, Tom Witte, Neil Hudson and Janny De Grauw. We hope that the authors will find the feedback from reviewers constructive. I am extremely grateful to the peer reviewers, the CRA sub-committee and to James Crabtree and Matt Smith who completed the Programme Guardian team. David Hicks, Jane Woodley, Sue Wright and Anne Catchpole also deserve thanks for their contributions during the submission, appraisal and production phases of this Special Issue of EVJ. Editor-in-Chief, EVJ and Chairman BEVA 2014 Scientific Programme Guardians Objectives: To compare the sedative and hypoalgesic effects of 4 dosages of butorphanol in xylazine-premedicated donkeys. Celia M Marr Congress Session Sponsors Study design:In vivo experiment. Methods:Six donkeys received intravenous treatments: saline and saline (S-S); xylazine (0.5 mg/kg bwt) and saline (X-S); xylazine and butorphanol 10 μg/kg bwt (X-B10); xylazine and butorphanol 20 μg/kg bwt (X-B20); xylazine and butorphanol 30 μg/kg bwt (X-B30); and xylazine and butorphanol 40 μg/kg bwt (X-B40). Sedation score (0-3), head height above ground (HHAG),...

Effect of Feed Intake on Water Consumption in Horses: Relevance to Maintenance Fluid Therapy

“…Fluids constitute one of the single most expensive components of the total cost of colic treatment in a hospital setting, for both medical and surgical cases ( 63 ), and their use should be guided by an understanding of the many variables that underlie water balance in the horse. Recent research findings should increase awareness in horse owners and veterinarians that water consumption in equids can be considerably altered by feed consumption ( 11 ).…”

Fifty years of colic surgery

“…Thirdly, low complication and high survival rates after colic surgery achieved through a parsimonious approach to post‐operative drug therapy at least challenge the notion that aggressive post‐operative drug therapy plays an important role in survival. The strongest argument in favour of a conservative approach to post‐operative treatments is expense , which could drive the overall cost of colic surgery beyond what most owners can afford.…”

Fluid therapy in horses: how much is too much?

“…In the case of fluid therapy, cost alone is a critical consideration. Fluids are one of the most expensive items consumed in the treatment of a horse with colic, 2 and the higher costs associated with greater fluid use could mean some horses are deprived of life‐saving surgical treatment 3 …”

“…There is a growing awareness of problems associated with overly aggressive fluid therapy in people and small animals, and current concepts around fluid responsiveness in these patients 2,9-11 could be relevant to horses.…”

“…In the case of fluid therapy, cost alone is a critical consideration. Fluids are one of the most expensive items consumed in the treatment of a horse with colic, 2 and the higher costs associated with greater fluid use could mean some horses are deprived of life-saving surgical treatment. 3 Delivering the necessary amount of fluids to meet the needs of an animal as large as a horse is a challenge, but this has been addressed by the development of efficient systems for delivering sterile fluids rapidly from 5 litre bags (Fig 1).…”