Treatment of gastrointestinal ischemic injury

Ischemic injury is one of the most important causes of mortality in equine veterinary medicine. Although treatment of reperfusion injury has been attempted in a number of experimental trials to reduce the level of injury subsequent to an ischemic episode, this research has not resulted in the development of useful clinical treatments. Nevertheless, recent studies assessing intraluminal application of solutions containing antioxidants, nutrients, and vasodilators are promising. Furthermore, focusing on improving mucosal recovery after an ischemic event may provide an alternative method of reducing mortality. Potential treatments include administration of basement membrane components like hyaluronic acid, gut-specific nutrients like glutamine, and early return to feeding to stimulate endogenous repair mechanisms. Finally, recent studies evaluating NSAIDs have revealed the potential of flunixin meglumine to retard the mucosal repair process, indicating the need for judicious use of this drug.