Clinical efficacy of combinations of nebulised fluticasone, salbutamol and furosemide on lung function in premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome

Abstract

Surfactant deficiency, poor development of the lung structure and fibrosis as a result of inflammation are thought to play an important role in the development of respiratory distress syndrome in premature calves. Nebulised steroid (fluticasone), bronchodilator (salbutamol) and diuretics (furosemide) can be used in combination alongside standard treatment procedures for premature calves, and might improve viability as observed in infants, foals and horses with pulmonary disorders. Twenty-five premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome were used in this study. Oxygen and supportive treatment were administered to all groups. The first group was used as a control group (Group 1). The nebulised drug combinations were as follows: Group 2: fluticasone + salbutamol, Group 3: salbutamol + furosemide, Group 4: fluticasone + furosemide and Group 5: fluticasone + salbutamol + furosemide. During the 72-h time period of the study, fluticasone (15 µg/kg/12 h), salbutamol (0.025 mg/kg/6 h) and furosemide (1 mg/kg/12h) were applied for 5 min. Arterial blood samples were collected from the auricular artery at 0 h and at 1, 24, 48 and 72 h for blood gas analysis. Significant (P < 0.05) increases in arterial partial oxygen, oxygen saturation and peripheral oxygen saturation and decreases in arterial partial carbon dioxide, lactate and respiration rate were observed in all the nebulised treatment groups, while a statistical difference was observed only for arterial partial carbon dioxide in control group. When comparing the treated groups with the control, it may be concluded that nebulised drugs are highly effective in the therapy of premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome, while the different nebulised groups exhibited similar efficacies.

Pharmacokinetics of enrofloxacin and danofloxacin in premature calves

“…The study was performed on 24 Holstein calves (12 males, 12 females, weighing between 17 and 23 kg) that were found to be premature by the anamnesis and general clinical examination. The calves which were found to be born prematurely according to predetermined criteria (gestational age between 245 and 260 days, low body weight, weak or no suckling reflex, short silky hair coat, incomplete eruption of the incisor teeth, soft claws, and general weakness) as described by Yildiz and Ok () and Guzelbektes, Coskun, Ok, Aydogdu, and Sen () were included in this study. Calves were fed the fresh or frozen colostrum (10% of body weight) daily.…”

“…Because of immaturity, the ability to cope with infections may be impaired in calves, and premature calves may be predisposed to serious health problems (Aydogdu, Yildiz, Guzelbektes, Coskun, & Sen, ; Bittrich et al, ). As premature calves have weak or absent suckling reflexes, they cannot take colostrum in sufficient amounts (Yildiz & Ok, ). Premature calves, due to the failure of passive transfer, have a higher risk of infectious diarrhea, pneumonia, sepsis, and abnormal pulmonary functions than mature calves (Bleul, ; Weaver, Tyler, VanMetre, Hostetler, & Barrington, ; Yildiz & Ok, ).…”

“…As premature calves have weak or absent suckling reflexes, they cannot take colostrum in sufficient amounts (Yildiz & Ok, ). Premature calves, due to the failure of passive transfer, have a higher risk of infectious diarrhea, pneumonia, sepsis, and abnormal pulmonary functions than mature calves (Bleul, ; Weaver, Tyler, VanMetre, Hostetler, & Barrington, ; Yildiz & Ok, ). Because of the immature immune system, and the insufficiency of passive transfer of maternal antibodies, drugs with bactericidal activity are a preferred treatment for premature calves (Hulbert & Moisá, ; Schmidt, Sangild, Blum, Andersen, & Greve, ).…”

Venous lactate, pH and partial pressure of carbon dioxide levels as prognostic indicators in 110 premature calves with respiratory distress syndrome

“…This can be life threatening in calves with immaturity of the brain, locomotor system, gastrointestinal tract and lungs (Ok and others 2000, Bleul 2009, Yıldız 2014). Premature calves have surfactant deficiency because of their immature lungs (Divers 2008, Karapinar and Dabak 2008).…”

“…This progressive respiratory failure is known as respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Premature calves with RDS have clinical signs of respiratory distress including forced respiratory movements, tachypnoea or apnoea and cyanosis at birth or within several hours after birth (Eigenmann and others 1984, Yıldız 2014). …”