Modifications on the vulvoplasty procedure in mares Surgical reconstruction of the perineum is a worldwide acknowledged procedure in the treating of broadmares suffering from atrophy, peripartal overdistension or injuries to the perineal tissues, and is usually able to restore reduced fertility or reproductive inefficiency in those thus afflicted. The requiered episiotomy before foaling and perineal lacerations incurred during subsequent parturition after Caslick vulvoplasty led to consideration of alternative techniques such as perineal body transrection and episioplasty. A number of authors have described various operative techniques which essentially involve mucosa resection. In fact this broad spectrum of methods led to the awareness of clearly different tensile characteristics in the vestibulo-vaginal seals. Nevertheless, the resulting scar tissue after surgery is often a hindrance to the passage of the fertilised ovum intra partum. The modification of the origrnal Caslick method presented here distinguishes itself from the hitherto described techniques essentially by means of effecting the inclination of the upper vaginal wall as well as the simultaneous tightening of the vestibular sphincter is consequently reconstructed and left undamaged. Perineal tissue and vestibular mucosa are not lacerated again, resulting in the elongated perineal body showing sufficient stability and elasticity before and during parturition. A recurrence of lacerations in the reconstructed perineum were subsequently not apparent in 75% of the cases studied. The step-by-step surgical procedure is presented here together with photographic illustration.

Summary146 newborn foals aged 12 hours to 14 days with varying manifestations of sepsis were retrospectively analysed, based on a modified sepsisscoring system with respect to historical data, clinical findings and laboratory data (IgG, glucose, number of neutrophilic granulocytes in the blood). The overall cure rate was 13% (19/146). The majority of foals (60%) presented to the clinic were highly depressed (34/146) or comatose (66/146). Foals with early signs of sepsis, but still able to stand and with a positive suckling reflex (46/146) had much better survival rates (30%), whereas recumbent patients with positive suckling reflex had lowered prognosis quoad vitam (15%). The foals which entered the clinic in a comatose status could not be cured in any case. With respect to history and results of the clinical examination immature and/or underdeveloped septic foals had the poorest prognosis. Obviously one of the main reasons for septicaemia was an inadequate intake of colostral immunoglobulins: 60% of the foals showed a hypogammaglobulinaemia with IgG-concentrations <400 mg/dL. Their survival rate was <10%, whereas foals with IgG levels >400 mg/dL had improved cure rates (24%). Foals with granulocytopenia (<2000/mm≈ ) or granulocytosis (>12.000/mm≈ ) as well as hypoglycaemic foals (<40 mg/dL) showed reduced cure rates. Most infections occurred post natum: Common environmental bacteria like E. coli, A. equuli, Klebsiella spec., Sc. zooepidemicus, Salmonella spec. and Staph. aureus were isolated most frequently. Keywords:newborn foals, sepsis, clinical signs, laboratory data, cure rate

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