Page 171 - Manual of Equine Field Surgery
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lnferomedial Subpalpebral Lavage Tube Placement 167
for resuturing of tape tabs, and tearing or break-
POSTOPERATIVE CARE age of the lavage tube system. 3,5 The most fre-
quently reported complications of inferomedial
lavage systems are displacement of the footplate
Postoperc'!tive Care·
from the conjunctival fornix (18°/o) and need for
Protedion: A protective eye cup is recommended resuturing of tape tabs (14°/o).3
to prevent self-trauma and failure of the lavage
tube.
Other: The tube and footplate should be tested REFERENCES
daily for patency; the blunt-tipped Luer adapter is
a common site for failure with leaking of the tube
and may need to be replaced if worn. Tubes 1. Brooks DE: Equine ophthalmology. In Gelatt KN,
leaking from sites rostral to the ears will need to editor: Veterinary ophthalmology, ed 3, Philadelphia,
be replaced with cl new lavage tube. Tape tabs and 1999, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
sutures should be inspected for loosening and 2. Miller TR: Principles of therapeutics, Vet Clin N Am.
Equine Pract 8:479, 1992.
should be resutured if necessary.3•5 3. Giuliano EA, Maggs DJ, Moore CP, et al: Inferome-
Medication: Only 0.1 ml of medication is nec-
essary for injection through the lavage tube. The dial placement of a single-entry subpalpebral lavage
dose of medication is advanced through the tube for treatment of equine eye disease, Vet Oph-
lavage tube by slowly injecting approximately l ml thalmol 3:153, 2000.
4. Frauenfelder H, Mcilwraith W: Placement of a sub-
of air through the tube using a tuberculin syringe.3
palpebral catheter in a standing horse, Vet Med Small
Anim Clin 74:724, 1979.
5. Sweeney CR, Russell GE: Complications associated
COMPLICATIONS with use of a one-hole subpalpebral lavage system in
horses: 150 cases (1977-1996), J Am Vet Med Assoc
Ocular complications of subpalpebral lavage tube 211:1271, 1997.
placement include displacement of the footplate 6. Gelatt KN: Postoperative subpalpebral medications
from the conjunctival fornix, corneal ulceration, in horses and dogs, Vet Med 62:1165, 1967.
swelling of the ventral eyelid, and loss of the foot- 7. Samuelson D: Ophthalmic anatomy. In Gelatt KN,
plate within the eyelid. Nonocular complications editor: Veterinary oph.thalmology, ed 3, Philadelphia,
include leakage or loss of the injection port, need 1999, Lippincott, Williams & Wilkins.
