dc.contributor.author |
Viljoen, Adrienne
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dc.contributor.author |
Saulez, Montague Newton
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dc.contributor.author |
Donnellan, C.M.B. (Cynthia Mary Bridget)
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dc.contributor.author |
Bester, Lynette
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dc.contributor.author |
Gummow, Bruce
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dc.date.accessioned |
2009-11-04T07:04:11Z |
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dc.date.available |
2009-11-04T07:04:11Z |
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dc.date.issued |
2009-09 |
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dc.description.abstract |
Medical records of equine after-hours admissions from 1998 to 2007 are reviewed. Data extracted from the medical records included signalment, reason for admission, pre-admission treatment, clinical presentation, procedures performed, final diagnoses, complications occurring in hospital, length of stay and outcome. Eight hundred and twenty after-hours admissions were available of which 75 % were classified as emergencies. Most horses originated from Gauteng province (82 %), with Thoroughbred, Arabian, and Warmbloods representing 46 %, 10 % and 7 % of horses. Horses had a median age of 7 years and were predominantly male (60 %). Gastrointestinal (64 %) and musculoskeletal (19 %) disorders were the primary reasons for admission. Anti-inflammatories, sedation and antibiotics were given in 51 %, 20 % and 15 % of cases respectively prior to referral. On admission, 23 % of horses had surgical intervention. Intravenous catheterisation (64 %), rectal examination (61 %), nasogastric intubation (56 %), abdominocentesis (33 %) and ultrasonography (19 %) were the procedures performed most frequently. Surgical and medical colics constituted 28 % and 27 % respectively of the overall diagnoses, while piroplasmosis was diagnosed in 5 % of horses. Post-admission complications occurred in <2 % of horses. The median length of stay was 4 days (95 % CI: 1 to 21 days). Overall survival to discharge was 74 %. This study demonstrates that the majority of after-hours equine admissions to a university referral hospital required medical intervention and were mostly due to gastrointestinal disorders. Information obtained from this study can be used in emergency referral planning. |
en |
dc.identifier.citation |
Viljoen, A, Saulez, MN, Donnellan, CM, Bester, L & Gummow, B 2009, 'After-hours equine emergency admissions at a university referral hospital (1998 - 2007) : causes and interventions', Journal of the South African Veterinary Association, vol. 80, no. 3, pp. 169-173. [http://www.journals.co.za/ej/ejour_savet.html] |
en |
dc.identifier.issn |
0038-2809 |
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dc.identifier.other |
7003908833 |
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dc.identifier.other |
N-9314-2014 |
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dc.identifier.uri |
http://hdl.handle.net/2263/11696 |
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dc.language.iso |
en |
en |
dc.publisher |
South African Veterinary Association |
en |
dc.rights |
South African Veterinary Association |
en |
dc.subject |
Emergency medicine |
en |
dc.subject |
Equine hospital |
en |
dc.subject |
Gastrointestinal |
en |
dc.subject |
Musculoskeletal |
en |
dc.subject |
Piroplasmosis |
en |
dc.subject |
Ultrasonography |
en |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Veterinary hospitals -- South Africa |
en |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Horses -- Diseases |
en |
dc.subject.lcsh |
Veterinary emergencies -- South Africa |
en |
dc.title |
After-hours equine emergency admissions at a university referral hospital (1998 - 2007) : causes and interventions |
en |
dc.type |
Article |
en |