Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Horse shows signs of air in veins after surgery - what to know
By Bradbury, L A et al.·Published in The Veterinary record·2005·Philip Leverhulme Large Animal Hospital·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Suspected venous air embolism in a horse.
- Species:
- horse
Plain-English summary
A horse with a severe bowel blockage that lasted 10 days underwent surgery but didn't improve. While preparing for a second surgery, the horse accidentally inhaled air through a dislodged catheter, causing it to become very agitated. After being put under anesthesia again, the blockage was successfully removed. However, after waking up, the horse experienced intense itching that lasted for about 12 hours, likely due to a condition called venous air embolism, where air bubbles enter the bloodstream.
People also search for: horse bowel blockage treatment · horse surgery complications · why is my horse itching after surgery
Abstract
A horse which had had a caecal impaction for 10 days was treated by means of an ileocolostomy [corrected] but failed to respond satisfactorily. Before a second laparotomy was performed it was observed to have dislodged the extension set from a jugular catheter and air was heard being sucked into the vein. It became very agitated but was anaesthetised again and the impaction was removed through an incision in the apex of the colon [corrected] After recovering from the anaesthesia it developed severe signs of pruritus which subsided only after 12 hours. These signs were considered most likely to have resulted from a venous air embolism.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15704551/