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Biomedical subjects

T S Stashak

Publications and source records attributed to T S Stashak.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

Fiber digestion and voluntary intake in horses after adaptation to extensive large-colon resection.

Each of 3 digestion trials (3 forage diets) was performed on 2 groups of horses 6 to 12 months after sham operation (group 1; n = 3) or large-colon resection (group 2; n = 5). Diets were alfalfa pellets, alfalfa hay, and grass hay. Feed and fecal analyses were performed to determine apparent digestion of dry matter, organic matter, and crude protein and true digestion of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, total plant cell wall, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Additional fecal and metabolic variables determined were percentage of fecal water, total fecal water, metabolic organic matter, metabolic crude protein, and metabolic nitrogen. Large-colon resection decreased the digestion of plant cell wall because of decreased digestion of cellulose in alfalfa pellet and grass hay diets, but not in alfalfa hay diet. Insufficient digestible energy and/or protein from grass hay was obtained by horses with colon resection, and significant (P less than 0.05) weight loss was observed. Voluntary intake was significantly (P less than 0.05) increased by horses with colon resection. Of the diets studied, alfalfa hay was the most appropriate forage diet, compared with average grass hay and alfalfa pellet diet, for horses after extensive large-colon resection. Additionally, horses with colon resection may have higher levels of feed intake than do horses without colon resection.

Adaptation, Physiological↗

Digestion, fecal, and blood variables associated with extensive large colon resection in the horse.

Nutritional alterations were evaluated in 9 horses before surgery and 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months (4 total trials) after sham operation (group 1; n = 3) or extensive large colon resection (group 2; n = 6). Feed and fecal analyses were performed to determine apparent digestion of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, potassium, manganese, zinc, copper, and iron, and true digestion of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, total plant cell wall, hemicellulose, cellulose, and lignin. Additional fecal and metabolic variables included the percentage of fecal water (water in the feces), total fecal water, metabolic organic matter, metabolic crude protein, and metabolic nitrogen. A CBC and standard series of biochemical tests were performed. Large colon resection decreased (P less than 0.05) the true digestion of dietary crude protein and cellulose and apparent digestion of phosphorus, and it increased the fecal metabolic matter and water loss. Total fecal output increased 45% and total fecal water increased 55%. Phosphorus digestion was decreased (P less than 0.05) in group-2 horses, but effects of this were not detected on analysis of blood variables or on physical examination. Nevertheless, after extensive large colon resection, horses can regain body weight lost after surgery and have no overt physical changes when fed an alfalfa pellet diet that meets greater-than-maintenance requirements. Ad libitum water access is suggested, because these horses may have to consume 2 gal/day more than would normal horses.

Anastomosis, Surgical↗

Large intestinal capacity, retention times, and turnover rates of particulate ingesta associated with extensive large-colon resection in horses.

Fecal excretion of a particulate marker, ytterbium (Yb), was evaluated in 9 horses before surgery and 3 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months (4 trials) after sham-operation (group 1; n = 3) or extensive large colon resection (group 2; n = 6). Fecal excretion curves of total Yb excretion, loge Yb excretion, % Yb excretion, loge % Yb excretion, and cumulative % Yb excretion were evaluated, and kinetic analysis was performed on the loge Yb excretion curves to detect mixing pools and to calculate the fractional rate of particulate passage, turnover rate, and pool size. Calculations were performed to determined transit time, mean overall retention time, adjusted mean retention time, peak time, and disappearance time. Values were statistically analyzed to determine differences between groups and among trials (P less than 0.05). Group-2 horses had significantly shorter transit, peak, and mean overall retention times, compared with preoperative values and with values for group-1 horses. Two mixing pools were identified: a slower emptying pool of 5.7% hour-1 (k1) and a faster emptying pool of 12.3% hour-1 (k2). The rate of passage from the first pool (k1) was not altered by colon resection, and was interpreted as being most influenced by the cecum. In further support of this interpretation, the capacity of the k1 pool approximated the capacity of the cecum (17 L). The capacity of the k1 pool significantly expanded by 6 months in the resected horses. the rate of passage from the second pool (k2) significantly increased initially after colon resection (3 weeks and 3 months), but returned to preoperative values by 6 months.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

Laminectomy for relief of atlantoaxial subluxation in four horses.

Malalignment of the atlas and axis was seen in 4 horses with an idiopathic form of atlantoaxial subluxation characterized by spinal cord compression on extension. The bone structure and density of the atlas and axis were radiographically normal in 3 of the 4 horses. Clinical signs appeared when the horses were 6 to 30 months old, and 3 of the 4 horses had a history of trauma. Although a congenital anomaly could not be ruled out, the cause was thought to be trauma. The horses were moderately to severely ataxic at the time of examination. Myelography revealed compression of the spinal cord at the atlantoaxial junction on extension. Flexion completely relieved the compression. In each horse, subtotal laminectomy of the caudal two thirds of the dorsal arch of the atlas was used to relieve the spinal cord compression. Two horses recovered fully, one had residual grade-1 neurologic deficits, and a fourth was euthanatized after it fractured a limb 6 weeks after surgery.

Animals↗

Luxation of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints in horses.

Lateral or medial luxation of the metacarpophalangeal or metatarsophalangeal (fetlock) joint in 10 horses is presented. Closed and open fetlock luxation each occurred in five horses. Horses were treated by cast immobilisation after debridement of soft tissue and joint lavage in cases of open luxations. Suture apposition of a ruptured collateral ligament was attempted in three cases. Antibiotic therapy was used in all cases of open fetlock luxation but non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication was used inconsistently. Whether closed or open, fetlock luxations had a good prognosis for return to breeding status. After treatment, seven horses were used for breeding, one horse was ridden for nine years, one horse remained lame and was destroyed and one horse was lost to follow up.

Animals↗

Subchondral osseous cystic lesions of the elbow of horses: conservative versus surgical treatment.

Subchondral osseous cystic lesion of the elbow was diagnosed as a cause of lameness in 6 horses. Persistent lameness and signs of degenerative joint disease developed in the first 3 horses treated conservatively with confinement. Subsequently, 3 horses were each treated by extra-articular enucleation of the cystic cavity via the proximal-medial aspect of the radius. Compared with conservative management, better long-term success (determined by return of athletic soundness and less evidence of degenerative joint disease) was achieved with surgical curettage of elbow subchondral cystic lesions.

Animals↗

Fractures of the distal phalanx of the forelimb in eight foals.

Fractures of the distal phalanx of the forelimb were diagnosed in 5 colts and 3 fillies ranging in age from 2 weeks to 5 1/2 months at the time of fracture. Three fractures entered the distal interphalangeal joint and 6 fractures (one foal had bilateral fractures) were nonarticular. All foals with articular fractures became sound with conservative treatment. Four of 5 foals with nonarticular fractures became sound with conservative treatment and 1 foal developed separation of the hoof at the coronary band after application of acrylic around the hoof. On the basis of our observations in these foals, sagittal articular and nonarticular distal phalangeal fractures in foals should be treated conservatively. Foals so treated would have an excellent prognosis for return to soundness.

Animals↗

Large colon resection and anastomosis in horses.

Large colon resection and anastomosis was performed in 11 horses at various levels of the colon, using several surgical methods. The level of resection ranged from the pelvic flexure to the cecocolic ligament. Nine of 11 horses survived and at follow-up (4 months to 7 years) were free of clinical signs referable to disease of the gastrointestinal tract. Seven horses could be evaluated as to athletic or reproductive function and all returned to original potential.

Animals↗

Postanesthetic hemorrhagic myelopathy in a horse.

Acute hemorrhagic myelopathy developed in the sixth cervical to the eighth thoracic spinal cord segments of a 1-year-old Quarter Horse colt that was castrated under general anesthesia while in dorsal recumbency. Clinical signs were consistent with severe transverse myelopathy caudal to the brachial enlargement and cranial to the lumbosacral enlargement of the spinal cord. Histologic examination of the spinal cord revealed hemorrhage in the gray matter, with multiple blood-filled clefts in otherwise normal neuropil. Hemodynamic changes in the spinal cord associated with anesthesia and dorsal recumbency may have led to hypoxic vessel damage, with massive hemorrhage after surgery, when the horse was returned to lateral recumbency. Postanesthetic hemorrhagic myelopathy is a possible complication of positioning in dorsal recumbency, during anesthesia, in rapidly growing, young horses.

Animals↗

Pathology of the vertebral column of horses with cervical static stenosis.

Specimens of ligamentum flavum, joint capsule, and dorsal lamina were collected at surgery or necropsy from 25 horses with cervical static stenosis. All horses had myelographic evidence of dorsal compression of the spinal cord caused by soft tissue and/or bone in the caudal cervical area, primarily at C6-7. Most horses also had radiographic evidence of degenerative joint disease of articular facets. Histologically 19 horses had osteosclerosis and cartilage retention in the dorsal lamina, and 24 horses had increased fibrocartilage at the ligamentum flavum attachment to dorsal lamina. The ligamentum flavum and joint capsule had fibrovascular tissue in 20 horses. Fibrocartilaginous tissue, old hemorrhage, and fat necrosis were not unusual. One horse each had a synovial cyst, eosinophilic granulomas in the joint capsule, and osteochondrosis of articular facets. These findings indicate that abnormal biomechanical forces or instability of articulations result in stretching and tearing of the ligamentum flavum and joint capsule with subsequent fibrovascular and fibrocartilaginous proliferation, osteosclerosis of the dorsal lamina, and osteophyte formation on the articular facets.

Animals↗

Digestion in horses after resection or ischemic insult of the large colon.

The effect of 60% resection of the large colon vs ischemic insult without resection on the ability of horses to digest grass hay was investigated. Digestion trials were performed on 9 horses before surgery (base line) and 3 weeks, 6 weeks, and 6 months after surgery. The percentage of apparent digestion of crude protein, crude fiber, nitrogen-free extract, calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, manganese, copper, and zinc was calculated. Horses that had resection (n = 5) had decreased apparent digestion of crude protein, crude fiber, and phosphorus 3 weeks after surgery, compared with those in horses with ischemic insults (n = 4) and with base-line values. Horses with ischemic insults also had a decrease in crude protein digestion 3 weeks after surgery, compared with base-line values. All horses returned to base-line values of digestion at the 6-month trials, although horses that had resection had higher fecal concentrations of phosphorus and nitrogen-free extract than did horses with ischemic insult. During the study, all horses had maintained good body condition.

Animals↗

Osteochondritis dissecans of the sagittal ridge of the third metacarpal and metatarsal bones in horses.

Osteochondritis dissecans of the sagittal ridge of the third metacarpal and metatarsal bones was diagnosed in 8 horses during an 18-month period. Seven of the horses were less than or equal to 2 1/2 years old. Synovial distention of the affected fetlock joints and a pain response to fetlock flexion were typical findings. Lameness predominated in 1 limb at a trot, although fetlock flexion frequently elicited lameness in other affected limbs. Radiography revealed bony lesions (flattening, erosion, or fragmentation) of the sagittal ridge in at least 2 fetlock joints in all horses. The onset of signs was not correlated with the severity of radiographic changes in all horses.

Animals↗

Surgical management of perineal lacerations and rectovestibular fistulae in the mare: a retrospective study of 47 cases.

The case records of 47 mares with third-degree perineal lacerations or rectovestibular fistulae were examined to evaluate their fertility following surgical repair. Of 32 mares bred, 24 became pregnant, suggesting that surgical repair is indicated in any mare with sufficient genetic potential. Perineal trauma after surgical repair was recorded in 3 of 20 mares at subsequent parturition.

Animals↗

Evaluation of fluorescein dye as an indicator of small intestinal viability in the horse.

In 6 horses, 2 types of ischemic lesions were created in small intestinal segments by selective ligation of vessels and intestinal wall for 1, 2, or 3 hours. After confirming the ischemia by IV injection of sodium fluorescein, the ligatures were released. Five minutes later, the fluorescent patterns were documented photographically. Observed patterns ranged from normal (identical to that observed in unaffected bowel) to a patchy distribution of non-fluorescence (indicating incomplete perfusion). None of the experimental segments was normal when reevaluated 1 month later. The typical appearance included fibrosis, adhesions, and thickening of the bowel wall. It was concluded that IV injection of fluorescein can be used to indicate perfusion of the intestine, but that this is not the only criterion for determining clinical outcome in cases of intestinal ischemia in horses.

Animals↗

Pathologic changes associated with induced small intestinal strangulation obstruction and nonstrangulating infarction in horses.

Arteriovenous (ischemic strangulation obstruction, ISO) or venous (hemorrhagic strangulation obstruction, HSO) occlusions were created in the jejunum of 5 anesthetized horses and were left in situ for 1-, 2-, or 3-hour intervals. Segments were evaluated grossly for color, thickness, and motility. The horses were euthanatized, and the degree of mucosal slough, edema, congestion, and hemorrhage was determined histologically. Segments subjected to ISO became dark, but did not contain edema or hemorrhage. Segments subjected to HSO were characterized by progressive congestion, edema, and hemorrhage especially in the mucosal layer. Histologically, the mucosal epithelium was affected approximately equally by ISO or HSO, although more gross changes were evident in segments subjected to HSO.

Animals↗