Complications associated with equine transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration: Practitioner survey and field results

Transvaginal ultrasound-guided follicle aspiration (TVA) is being performed commonly in clinical equine practice. There is limited information in the literature about the type and incidence of complications related to TVA. We conducted a survey (Study 1), completed by 23 practicing veterinarians, soliciting information about the types and incidence of minor and major complications and of fatalities they had experienced associated with performance of TVA. In Study 2, data from a large clinical practice in which six veterinarians performed over 14,000 TVAs over a period of 7 years was reviewed to determine the type and incidence of complications seen (Study 2). Overall, major complications, i.e. complications resulting in severe mare illness or illness that took longer than a week to resolve, was seen in an estimated 1 in 1000 cases in Study 1 and 1 in 375 cases in Study 2. Fatalities were reported in an estimated 1 in 3000 cases in Study 1 and in 1 in 2000 cases in Study 2. In summary, performance of TVA in a variety of settings has a low rate of major or fatal complications. Survey responses noted areas to which attention might be brought that have potential to further reduce the incidence of complications.