Abstract
A 20-year-old gelding presented with a history of acute respiratory distress which began immediately after administration of a mineral oil and water mix, via nasogastric intubation, for treatment of suspected gastrointestinal dysfunction. An initial presumptive diagnosis of acute lipoid pneumonia was made; this was further supported by evidence of arterial hypoxaemia and oxygen desaturation on arterial blood gas analysis, ultrasonographic signs of bilateral ventral lung consolidation and a mixed bronchoalveolar-interstitial lung pattern seen on thoracic radiographs. Despite intensive supportive therapy the horse's condition continued to deteriorate and the decision was made for humane euthanasia. Gross necropsy findings supported the clinical diagnosis of lipoid pneumonia.
Highlights
Mineral oil is commonly used in equine practice as a lubricant in cases of gastrointestinal impaction and as a purgative in cases of potential toxicosis (Davis et al, 2001)
The per-acute presentation of this case was considered to be due to the large volume of liquid paraffin believed to have been administered directly into the trachea as a result of dislodgement of the nasogastric tube secondary to the horse moving; to support this hypothesis, there was no post-mortem evidence of mineral oil found within the stomach or intestines
Thoracic auscultation of horses presenting with potential lipoid pneumonia typically reveals abnormal lung sounds while thoracic ultrasonography often reveals an increased number of comet tails, again supporting what was found in the present case
Summary
Mineral oil (liquid paraffin) is commonly used in equine practice as a lubricant in cases of gastrointestinal impaction and as a purgative in cases of potential toxicosis (Davis et al, 2001). Scarratt et al (1998) and Davis et al (2001) reported the clinical presentation to be either acute or chronic in nature, depending upon the quantity of mineral oil aspirated.
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