Indwelling Cephalic or Saphenous Vein Catheter Use for Regional Limb Perfusion in 44 Horses with Synovial Injury Involving the Distal Aspect of the Limb

Objective: To describe indwelling cephalic or saphenous vein catheter use for intravenous regional limb perfusion (ID-IV-RLP) to treat horses with synovial injury (contamination/infection) of the distal aspect of the limb. Study Design: Retrospective case series. Animals: Horses (n = 44; 45 limbs) treated with proximal ID-IV-RLP. Methods: Horses had ID-IV-RLP using a cephalic (21 limbs) or saphenous (24 limbs) vein. Amikacin was the most frequently used antibiotic. Number of perfusions ranged from 3 to 21 (median 7). A cast was applied to 14 injured limbs (1 tube cast, 1 full-limb cast, 2 foot casts, and 10 half-limb casts). Results: Synovial sepsis of the distal portion of 87% of limbs (39) resolved, and 61% of horses returned to soundness. Catheter-related complications occurred in 27% of the limbs but were not significantly associated with outcome. Presence of osteomyelitis was significantly associated with a poor outcome. Conclusions: ID-IV-RLP using the cephalic or saphenous vein is an alternative to traditional RLP. An indwelling catheter provided prolonged venous access and facilitated successive perfusions.