title: Clinical use of antimicrobial regional limb perfusion in horses: 174 cases (1999-2009).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the clinical use of regional limb perfusion with antimicrobials (A-RLP), complications, and outcome in a large series of patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  174 horses.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records of horses treated with A-RLP between 1999 and 2009 were reviewed. Signalment, primary complaint, horse use, etiology, duration of clinical signs, previous treatment, structures involved, concurrent conditions, A-RLP characteristics, additional treatments, complications, and outcome were recorded. At long-term follow-up, 2 outcomes were investigated: survival rate and return to previous use at the same or higher level. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Group 1 (96 horses) included septic synovitis. Group 2 (50 horses) included extrasynovial lacerations (23 horses) and fresh, minimally contaminated intrasynovial lacerations without evidence of established synovial infection (27 horses). Group 3 (28 horses) included miscellaneous other conditions. Only minor complications were reported in 12.26% of horses that received IV (n = 155) and 33% of horses that received intraosseous (27) A-RLP. Horses with septic synovitis had a lower survival rate (53.43%) than did horses with lacerations (91.89%). Within group 2, no significant differences in short- or long-term outcomes were found between horses with extrasynovial and fresh, minimally contaminated intrasynovial lacerations. For the horses returning to previous use, 80% of horses with septic synovitis and 72.72% of horses with lacerations were performing at the same or higher level at the time of follow-up.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study indicated that A-RLP is a safe technique with minimal adverse effects. The IV route presented fewer complications than intraosseous injection. Horses with infection of synovial structures had a lower survival rate than did those with acute, minimally contaminated intrasynovial lacerations. The latter had a similar prognosis for horses with extrasynovial lacerations treated with A-RLP.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada. luis.rubiomartinez@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Luis M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Rubio-Martínez
authors.forename: Colette R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Elmas
authors.forename: Belinda
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: Gabrielle
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Monteith
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000662:veterinary*; D004333:Drug Administration Routes; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006736:Horses; D022125:Lacerations / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013585:Synovitis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents