Viljoen, AdrienneSaulez, Montague NewtonDonnellan, C.M.B. (Cynthia Mary Bridget)Bester, LynetteGummow, Bruce2009-11-042009-11-042009-09Viljoen, 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]0038-28097003908833N-9314-2014http://hdl.handle.net/2263/11696Medical 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.enSouth African Veterinary AssociationEmergency medicineEquine hospitalGastrointestinalMusculoskeletalPiroplasmosisUltrasonographyVeterinary hospitals -- South AfricaHorses -- DiseasesVeterinary emergencies -- South AfricaArticle