Intestinal surgery in horses involves surgical procedures performed on the horse's intestines to address conditions such as colic, obstructions, or strangulations. This type of surgery is a component of equine veterinary medicine focused on resolving gastrointestinal issues that cannot be managed through medical treatment alone. The surgical process may include resection, anastomosis, or bypass of affected intestinal segments. Post-operative care is critical, as horses are prone to complications such as adhesions and infections. This page compiles peer-reviewed research studies and scholarly articles that explore the techniques, outcomes, and post-operative management associated with intestinal surgery in horses.
Boorman S, Stefanovski D, Southwood LL.To determine risk factors, especially age, associated with postoperative reflux (POR; >2 L of reflux present upon intubation), high-volume POR (≥20 L in 24 hours), and short-term outcome after small intestinal (SI) surgery. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: Horses aged ≥16 years (geriatric; range, 16-30; n = 44) and <16 years (mature; range, 2-15; n = 39) with an SI surgical lesion that survived general anesthesia and did not have a second exploratory celiotomy during the same visit. Methods: Medical records (2009-2015) were reviewed; perioperative var...
van Bergen T, Haspeslagh M, Wiemer P, Swagemakers M, van Loon G, Martens A.To report the clinical features, outcomes, and prognostic factors associated with the surgical treatment of epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE). Methods: Retrospective study at a single referral hospital. Methods: Horses (n = 142) undergoing surgery (n = 145) for EFE. Methods: Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative data of surgeries on horses that underwent exploratory laparotomy for EFE were obtained. The postoperative outcome was assessed by follow-up telephone calls with the owners/caregivers. Factors associated with postoperative reflux (POR), relaparotomy, hospital discharge...
Troy JR, Holcombe SJ, Fogle CA, Epstein KL, Woodie JB.To determine the influence of hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose (HA-CMC) membranes applied to intestinal anastomoses or enterotomies on postoperative complications after emergency exploratory celiotomy. Methods: Multicenter retrospective case-controlled series. Methods: Adult horses (59 in the HA-CMC group and 91 controls). Methods: Medical records from 4 referral hospitals were searched for horses ≥1 year of age, treated between 2008 and 2014 with emergency exploratory celiotomy, and surviving at least 24 hours postoperatively. Horses receiving repeat celiotomy during the same hospitalizat...
Pihl TH, Nielsen MK, Olsen SN, Leifsson PS, Jacobsen S.Strongylus vulgaris is re-emerging in horses kept under surveillance-based parasite control regimens. Information on nonstrangulating intestinal infarction associated with S. vulgaris is needed to improve recognition of the condition. Objective: To describe the typical clinical presentation, laboratory findings, gross pathology, treatment and outcome of horses with nonstrangulating intestinal infarction. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Nonstrangluating intestinal infarction was diagnosed in 30 horses with a localised intestinal infarction with concurrent signs of S. vulgaris mig...
Kucera CR, Stranahan LW, Hughes F, Blikslager AT, Gonzalez LM.Progenitor cells play critical roles in epithelial repair following ischaemic injury. Protein biomarkers have been used to identify intestinal progenitor cell subpopulations. This study aims to determine if a critical number of intestinal progenitor cells can predict tissue viability and survival to discharge of large colon volvulus (LCV) cases. Objective: The objectives were to 1) identify intestinal progenitor cell subpopulations using biomarkers: proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), sex determining region Y box 9 (SOX9), phospho-histone H3 (PHH3) and Ki-67, 2) define cut-off values fo...
Romagnoli N, Zannoni A, Bernardini C, Gobbetti T, Bombardi C, Rambaldi AM, Morini M, Dondi F, Rinnovati R, Lambertini C, Spadari A.Proteinase-activated receptor 2 (PAR) is a G-protein-coupled receptor for trypsin and mast cell tryptase; it is highly expressed at the intestinal level with multiple functions, such as epithelial permeability and intestinal motility. The aim of the study was to evaluate the distribution and expression of proteinase-activated receptor 2 in the small intestine during herniation through epiploic foramen. In this prospective clinical study, eight horses admitted for colic and which underwent exploratory laparotomy were considered. During surgery, the jejunum or the ileum was sampled by enterectom...
Bauck AG, Grosche A, Morton AJ, Graham AS, Vickroy TW, Freeman DE.OBJECTIVE To examine effects of continuous rate infusion of lidocaine on transmural neutrophil infiltration in equine intestine subjected to manipulation only and remote to ischemic intestine. ANIMALS 14 healthy horses. PROCEDURES Ventral midline celiotomy was performed (time 0). Mild ischemia was induced in segments of jejunum and large colon. A 1-m segment of jejunum was manipulated by massaging the jejunal wall 10 times. Horses received lidocaine (n = 7) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (7) throughout anesthesia. Biopsy specimens were collected and used to assess tissue injury, neutrophil inf...
Biasutti S, Dart AJ, Dart CM, Uquillas E, Jeffcott LB.A newborn foal was referred for evaluation because it had not passed meconium, despite the administration of four enemas. Abdominal radiographs and ultrasound scans showed generalised gaseous distension of the intestine and there was no observable meconium in the colon. Positive contrast colography showed contrast medium extending to the transverse colon. An exploratory laparotomy confirmed the absence of the left and right dorsal colon and the pelvic and diaphragmatic flexures. An end-to-side anastomosis of the left ventral colon to the midpoint of the small colon was performed. The foal reco...
Jones ARE, Ragle CA, Anderson D, Scott C.To evaluate the feasibility and clinical outcomes after laparoscopic evaluation of the small intestines via laparoscopy. Methods: Prospective pilot study. Methods: Healthy adult horses (n = 5). Methods: Horses were restrained in standing stocks and received an infusion of detomidine. One port was placed in the left last intercostal space and 3 ports were placed in the right paralumbar fossa. The small intestine was run with atraumatic laparoscopic grasping forceps, from the duodenocolic plica to the ileocecal plica. Postoperative pain was scored every 4 hours for the first 48 hours. Horses...
Mirle E, Wogatzki A, Kunzmann R, Schoenfelder AM, Litzke LF.The surgical evaluation of haemorrhagic infarcted intestine and the decision for or against bowel resection require a lot of experience and are subjective. The aim of this prospective, clinical study was to examine the correlation between oxygen saturation and small intestinal wall (IW) thickness, using two objective methods. In 22 colicky horses, the blood flow, oxygen saturation and relative amount of haemoglobin were measured intraoperatively via laser Doppler and white light spectroscopy (O2C, oxygen to see, LEA Medizintechnik) at six measuring points (MPs) in small and large intestines. F...
Giusto G, Tramuta C, Caramello V, Comino F, Nebbia P, Robino P, Singer E, Grego E, Gandini M.The objective of this study was to investigate whether cleaning surgical materials used to close pelvic flexure enterotomies with a wet sterile gauze will reduce contamination and whether the use of a full thickness appositional suture pattern (F) or a partial thickness inverting (or Cushing) suture pattern (C) would make a difference in the level of contamination. Large colon specimens were assigned to group F or C and divided into subgroups N and G. In group G, a wet sterile gauze was passed over the suture material, another over the instruments, and another over the gloves. In group N, no t...
Salem SE, Proudman CJ, Archer DC.Perioperative lidocaine treatment is commonly used in horses that undergo surgical treatment of colic, to prevent or treat postoperative ileus and reduce the effects of intestinal ischaemia-reperfusion injury. However, its clinical efficacy has not been evaluated in a large population of horses undergoing small intestinal surgery. The aim of the current study was to evaluate whether systemic lidocaine administration reduced the prevalence, volume and duration of postoperative reflux and improved rates of survival following surgical treatment of small intestinal lesions. Data were collected as ...
Torfs SC, Maes AA, Delesalle CJ, Pardon B, Croubels SM, Deprez P.This study compared serotonin concentrations in platelet poor plasma (PPP) from healthy horses and horses with surgical small intestinal (SI) colic, and evaluated their association with postoperative ileus, strangulation and non-survival. Plasma samples (with EDTA) from 33 horses with surgical SI colic were collected at several pre- and post-operative time points. Serotonin concentrations were determined using liquid-chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Results were compared with those for 24 healthy control animals. The serotonin concentrations in PPP were significantly lower (P < 0.01) i...
Dunkel B, Mair T, Marr CM, Carnwath J, Bolt DM.To examine factors associated with short- and long-term prognosis for horses undergoing repeated celiotomy within 14 days after the first colic surgery. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 95 horses that had undergone 2 celiotomies within a 14-day period between 2005 and 2013 at 3 equine referral hospitals. Methods: Historical, clinical, and laboratory data were compared between horses that did not survive and horses that did survive to hospital discharge (short-term survival rate) and to > 3 and > 6 months after hospital discharge (long-term survival rates). Results: Strangulat...
Alonso Jde M, Rodrigues KA, Yamada AL, Watanabe MJ, Alves AL, Rodrigues CA, Hussni CA.Heparin is routinely administered in postoperative abdominal surgery aiming to prevent adhesions formation; however, there is no consensus indicating its effectiveness. This study evaluated the effect of heparin on peritoneal reactivity after abdominal surgery, through the association between peritoneal fluid features and ultrasonographic and laparoscopic examination. Ten adult horses were used: control group (CG) and treated group (TG). Both groups underwent laparotomy and small colon enterotomy. TG received subcutaneous heparin at 150 IU/kg every 12 hours for 5 days. The animals underwent ...
Reichert C, Kästner SB, Hopster K, Rohn K, Rötting AK.To evaluate the use of a micro-lightguide tissue spectrophotometer for measurement of tissue oxygenation and blood flow in the small and large intestines of horses under anesthesia. Methods: 13 adult horses without gastrointestinal disease. Methods: Horses were anesthetized and placed in dorsal recumbency. Ventral midline laparotomy was performed. Intestinal segments were exteriorized to obtain measurements. Spectrophotometric measurements of tissue oxygenation and regional blood flow of the jejunum and pelvic flexure were obtained under various conditions that were considered to have a potent...
Gandini M, Giusto G, Comino F, Pagliara E.In literature only one article describes and compares methods of achieving hemostasis in equine mesenteric arteries during jejunal resection and anastomosis, and most textbooks favor ligating-dividing mechanical devices. The latter method cannot always be used, not least because the devices are expensive and in some cases even contra-indicated. Various types of knots, including sliding knots, are widely used to provide hemostasis in laparoscopy. Methods: Portions of jejunum with associated mesenteric vessels were collected from 12 horses at a local abattoir. These were divided into 24 specimen...
Gandini M, Giusto G, Iotti B, Valazza A, Sammartano F.Stapled jejunocecal anastomoses are commonly performed in equine abdominal surgery. They carry higher complication rates compared to handsewn techniques. In human surgery various causes likely to lead to failure of stapled techniques have been evaluated, including staple line failure. Recently Freeman proposed a technique to perform a stapled jejunocecal anastomosis in horses while avoiding blind pouch formation. The aim of this study is to describe a method for stapled side-to-side jejunocecal anastomosis in horses and to compare it with other techniques with computed tomography to assess sto...
Close K, Epstein KL, Sherlock CE.To (1) compare postoperative complications and survival in horses after small intestinal resection and anastomosis using 2 anastomosis techniques (single layer Lembert; double layer simple continuous oversewn with Cushing), and (2) to compare outcome by anastomosis type (jejunoileostomy; jejunojejunostomy). Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: Horses (n = 53). Methods: Medical records (July 2006-July 2010) of all horses that had small intestinal resection and anastomosis. Horses were divided into groups based on technique and type of anastomosis. Comparisons of pre- and intraoperative ...
Aristizabal FA, Lopes MA, Silva A, Avanza MF, Nieto JE.To evaluate the effect of onlay mesenteric flaps (MFs) with end-to-end jejunojejunostomy on stomal diameter, length of jejunum with reduced stomal diameter, abdominal adhesion formation, and healing. Methods: Experimental study. Methods: Healthy adult horses (n = 6). Methods: Two hand sewn end-to-end jejunal anastomoses using a 1 layer simple continuous serosubmucosal suture pattern were performed in each horse ∼ 2 and 5 m oral to the ileocecal fold. Using a random design for selection anastomosis location (oral or aboral), 1 anastomosis was covered with 2 adjacent onlay MFs secured with int...
Hudson NP, Pearson GT, Mayhew IG, Proudman CJ, Burden FA, Fintl C.Intestinal motility disorders are an important problem in horses and donkeys and this study was carried out in order to evaluate the enteric neurons in animals with and without intestinal disease. Surplus intestinal tissue samples were collected from 28 horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy for colic. In addition, surplus intestinal samples from 17 control horses were collected immediately following humane destruction for clinical conditions not relating to the intestinal tract. Similar samples were also collected during routine post-mortem examinations from 12 aged donkeys; six animals wer...
Montgomery JB, Hamblin B, Suri SS, Johnson LE, New D, Johnston J, Kelly J, Wilson DG, Singh B.Ischemia followed by reperfusion leads to release of toxic molecules into the circulation, and these molecules may cause injury in remote organs such as the lung. Horses commonly suffer from episodes of intestinal ischemia-reperfusion (IR) due to intestinal twisting/strangulation followed by repair. Because there is no evidence of lung injury associated with IR in horses, we designed a study to characterize the intestinal IR-associated lung inflammation and determine the effect of lidocaine on lung inflammation in IR horses. Lung tissues were collected from non-anesthetized (n=4) and anestheti...
Matsuda K, Shimada T, Kawamura Y, Sakaguchi K, Tagami M, Taniyama H.A 2-year-old Thoroughbred horse presented with acute onset of colitis, and the intussuscepted jejunum was surgically resected. A transmural mass protruding into the lumen was found at the leading edge of the intussusceptum. Based on histological and immunohistochemical examinations, the mass was diagnosed as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with metastasis to the mesenteric lymph nodes. Anatomical localization of the mass in the intussusception and absence of other obvious underlying diseases indicated that the intussusception had occurred in association with the mass. To our knowledge, this case...
Anderson SL, Blackford JT, Kelmer SG.This study describes the outcome and complications in horses that had a closed, one-stage, stapled, functional, end-to-end (COSFE) jejuno-ileal anastomosis (JIA) following resection of compromised small intestine. Medical records were reviewed to identify all horses that had a COSFE JIA performed during exploratory laparotomy and to determine post-operative complications and final outcome. All 5 horses that were identified had successful COSFE JIA with resection of various amounts of distal jejunum and proximal ileum. Post-operative ileus occurred in 1 of the 5 horses. All horses survived at l...
Tappenbeck K, Hoppe S, Hopster K, Kietzmann M, Feige K, Huber K.Postoperative ileus (POI) is a severe complication following small intestinal surgery in horses. It was hypothesised that prokinetic effects of lidocaine, the most commonly chosen drug for treatment of POI, resulted from drug integration into smooth muscle (SM) cell membranes, thereby modulating cell membrane properties. This would probably depend on the structural and lipophilic characteristics of lidocaine. To assess the influence of molecular structure and lipophilicity on prokinetic effects in vitro, the current study compared the effects of lidocaine with four structure-related drugs, nam...
Hurcombe SD, Mudge MC, Daniels JB.To document whether presumptive bacterial translocation (PBT) occurs in horses with small intestinal strangulation (SIS). Methods: Prospective clinical cohort study. Methods: University tertiary care facility. Methods: Thirty-six adult horses with SIS (clinical cases) and 10 adult horses without gastrointestinal disease (control cases). Methods: Sterile collection and bacterial culture of samples from peripheral venous blood, mesenteric venous blood, mesenteric lymphatic tissue, and intestinal aspirates from horses with SIS and control horses without gastrointestinal disease. Results: Five of ...
Nelson BB, Brounts SH.Intussusception is thought to be associated with abnormal motility in the intestinal tract. The clinical signs vary depending on the associated intestinal damage. Therefore, intussusception should be included in the differential diagnosis for any horse with acute or chronic colic. A diagnosis may be made by ultrasonography or rectal palpation, but exploratory laparotomy is the predominant method. Treatment varies according to the location of the intussusception, but all treatments involve surgical intervention. The prognosis for intussusception can be good if the condition is diagnosed and tre...
Morello S, Southwood LL, Engiles J, Slack J, Crack A, Springate CM.To evaluate the effect of PERIDAN™ Concentrate on clinical findings, infection, and tissue healing in adult horses undergoing celiotomy and jejunojejunostomy. Methods: Block randomized blinded experimental in vivo study. Methods: Adult horses (n = 12). Methods: Horses had jejunojejunostomy at 2 sites and were administered 5 L of diluted PERIDAN™ Concentrate (6 horses) or Lactated Ringer's Injection (LRS) control intraperitoneally (6 horses) before body wall closure. Postoperative monitoring comprised physical examinations, serial hematology, coagulation and chemistry panels, and ultrasonog...
Peloso JG, Cohen ND.To determine the value of serial measurements of peritoneal fluid lactate concentration (PFL) for detecting strangulating intestinal lesions (SLs) in referred horses with signs of colic. Methods: Retrospective cohort study. Methods: 94 horses with signs of colic. Methods: Medical records of horses evaluated between September 2006 and February 2010 because of signs of colic were reviewed. All included horses had ≥ 2 peritoneal fluid samples collected, including one at admission and another within 1 to 6 hours after admission. Of the 94 horses, 26 were assigned to the SL group on the basis of ...
van der Velden MA.During a seven year period, 51 cases of acquired inguinal herniation in 50 stallions were treated surgically. In 25 cases the herniated loop was ileal, in the other 26 it was jejunal. In cases of strangulation, the vaginal ring was enlarged by incising the peritoneum and transverse fascia. Closure of the superficial inguinal ring was advisable to prevent the hernia recurring. In all cases unilateral castration was performed. Laparotomy was carried out in 33 cases; 22 required intestinal resection and in four cases a bypass was made. Follow-up at least six months postoperatively indicated that ...
Krista KM, Kuebelbeck KL.To determine how survival rates in geriatric horses (>or= 20 years old) undergoing abdominal exploratory surgery for colic compare with survival rates for younger (nongeriatric) horses. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: 56 geriatric horses and 487 nongeriatric horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy for colic. Methods: Medical records of all horses undergoing emergency abdominal exploratory surgery for primary gastrointestinal tract lesions over a 10-year period were reviewed. Data retrieved included signalment, primary gastrointestinal tract lesion, whether the horse was ...
Deby-Dupont G, Grülke S, Caudron I, Mathy-Hartert M, Benbarek H, Deby C, Lamy M, Serteyn D.The strangulated intestinal pathologies of horses are accompanied by a local activation of the neutrophils, that can be revealed by measuring the tissular enzymatic activity of the granulocytic enzyme myeloperoxidase (MPO). To estimate the possible spreading of this neutrophil activation to the systemic circulation, we designed a radioimmunoassay (RIA) for equine neutrophil myeloperoxidase (MPO) (EC 1.11.1.7) using a specific rabbit antiserum. MPO was labeled with 1 mCi 125I by a technique of self-labeling in the presence of 10(-4) M hydrogen peroxide. The RIA was performed by incubation of 10...
Specht TE, Colahan PT.Medical records of 48 equids (47 horses, 1 pony) with surgical sand colic were reviewed. The diagnosis of sand colic was made if a sand impaction(s) was palpated during exploratory abdominal surgery or if a large quantity of sand was found during colotomy. Most equids did not experience a previous episode of sand diarrhea or sand colic. Clinical findings and results of clinicopathologic determinations were not diagnostic. Rectal palpation findings in 40 of 46 horses were compatible with large-colon and/or cecal distention. Impactions were palpable per rectum in only 7 horses, but emergency abd...
Snyder JR, Pascoe JR, Holland M, Kurpershoek CJ.Measurements of jejunal, ileal, and large colon (pelvic flexure) surface O2 tension (PSO2) were made in halothane-anesthetized horses with a nonheated miniature oxygen polarographic electrode. Assisted ventilation with 100% O2 was used to maintain PaCO2 tension at 50 +/- 8 mm of Hg while mean arterial blood pressure was maintained greater than or equal to 70 mm of Hg. Mean +/- SD PSO2 for the intestinal segments were: jejunum (horses 1 to 4), 71 +/- 20 mm of Hg; ileum (horses 1 to 4), 61 +/- 8 mm of Hg; and pelvic flexure of the large colon (horses 1 to 10), 55 +/- 13 mm of Hg. The response of...
Santschi EM, Juzwiak JS, Moll HD, Slone DE.This clinical report describes surgical correction of diaphragmatic hernia in three young horses. Methods: Retrospective investigation of medical records and subsequent racing performance. Methods: Three young horses with diaphragmatic hernia. Results: Three young horses with signs of abdominal pain had diaphragmatic hernia causing small intestinal strangulation. The strangulated small intestine was resected and an end-to-end jejuno-jejunal (two horses) or a side-to-side jejuno-cecal anastomosis (one horse) was performed. Diaphragmatic hernias were closed with a continuous suture pattern. All ...
Rudnick MJ, Denagamage TN, Freeman DE.Although survival rates have been reported after small intestinal surgery for strangulating diseases in horses, none have followed survival for periods relevant to the long lifespan of horses and none have described effect of age, disease and surgical treatments over such long survival periods. Objective: To examine effects of age, disease and type of surgery on long-term survival in horses after surgical treatment of small intestinal strangulating diseases over periods relevant to the expected lifespan of a horse. Methods: Retrospective clinical study. Methods: Post-operative data were gather...
Eggleston RB, Mueller E, Quandt JE, Neuwirth L, Harmon BG, Waguespack WR, Rainbow ME.To compare the outcomes of double-layer inverting anastomosis (DIA), single-layer anastomosis (SLA), and single-layer anastomosis combined with a hyaluronate membrane (SLA+HA-membrane) with respect to stomal diameter, adhesion formation, surgery time, and anastomotic healing in horses. Methods: 18 adult horses. Methods: Midline celiotomy and end-to-end anastomoses were performed. In control horses (n = 6), DIA was performed; in treated horses, SLA was performed (6) or SLA+HA-membrane was performed (6). Horses were euthanatized 21 days after surgery. Abdominal adhesions were evaluated grossly a...
Latimer FG, Blackford JT, Valk N, Wan P, Patton S.To use gastrointestinal linear stapling instrumentation to perform a closed one-stage functional end-to-end jejunojejunostomy in adult horses as an alternative to a stapled side-to-side jejunojejunostomy. Methods: Clinical outcome, anatomic and histological architecture, and anastomotic dimensions were determined at 2, 4, 8, 16, and 24 weeks postoperatively. Methods: 18 adult horses. Methods: The anastomosis and peritoneal cavity were inspected for adhesions. The diameter and circumference of the anastomosis and jejunum oral and aboral to the anastomosis were determined from digitized contrast...
Vatistas NJ, Nieto JE, Van Hoogmoed L, Gardner I, Snyder JR.To evaluate the efficacy of an isolated perfusion circuit and the effect of ischemia-reperfusion on mucosal permeability of the jejunum. Methods: In vitro study of intestinal mucosal permeability. Methods: Twelve healthy adult horses. Methods: A control segment of jejunum was placed in an isolated perfusion circuit for 240 minutes and mucosal permeability was measured. After detecting no deleterious effects of the isolated system on the control intestine, low flow ischemia was created in experimental segments for 20, 40, 60 and 90 minutes followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion and mucosal perme...
Schmotzer WB, Riebold TW, Rowe KE, Scott EA.The steady-state response characteristics of a pulse oximeter were evaluated on intestinal segments of seven clinically normal halothane-anesthetized horses. Arterial oxygen tension greater than 200 mm of Hg, end tidal carbon dioxide from 30 to 35 mm of Hg, and systemic mean arterial pressure greater than 70 mm of Hg were maintained throughout the recording periods. Values for percentage of pulse oximeter oxygen saturation, pulsatile blood flow, and percentage of signal strength were recorded from jejunum, ileum, cecum, left ventral colon, left dorsal colon, and descending colon. Probe placeme...
Giusto G, Vercelli C, Gandini M.There are few guidelines for the appropriate mode of fluid administration during and after colic surgery, and is challenging to reach the right balance while avoiding overhydration. This study aimed to compare goal-directed fluid therapy (GDFT) and 'liberal' fluid regimens (LFRs) in horses undergoing small intestinal surgery. Methods: Eighteen horses subjected to small intestinal surgery were matched according to the surgical lesion, type of anastomosis, length of resection, and duration of clinical signs. Horses in the LFR group were administered intravenous (IV) fluids for at least 24 h. In ...
Sherlock C, Lee W, Mueller PO, Eggleston R, Epstein K.Although single layer techniques are preferred in man and small animals for small intestinal end-to-end anastomoses, double layer techniques are more popular in equine surgery. This study was undertaken to evaluate the ex vivo characteristics of 2 single layer anastomoses in comparison to the traditionally performed double layer anastomosis in equine jejunum. Objective: To compare ex vivo: 1) construction time; 2) bursting pressure; and 3) lumen size reduction of 3 suture patterns (double layer simple continuous/Cushing pattern [2C]; single layer Lembert pattern [1L]; and single layer Cushing ...
van Bergen T, Haspeslagh M, Wiemer P, Swagemakers M, van Loon G, Martens A.To report the clinical features, outcomes, and prognostic factors associated with the surgical treatment of epiploic foramen entrapment (EFE). Methods: Retrospective study at a single referral hospital. Methods: Horses (n = 142) undergoing surgery (n = 145) for EFE. Methods: Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative data of surgeries on horses that underwent exploratory laparotomy for EFE were obtained. The postoperative outcome was assessed by follow-up telephone calls with the owners/caregivers. Factors associated with postoperative reflux (POR), relaparotomy, hospital discharge...
Sullins KE, White NA, Lundin CS, Dabareiner R, Gaulin G.Treatments addressing variously theorised pathophysiological mechanisms of small intestinal adhesions have been reported. This study applied those classes of treatments to the most clinically relevant aetiology of post operative adhesions. Objective: Treatments addressing the pathophysiology of ischaemia-reperfusion induced adhesions would accordingly reduce the incidence of adhesions from this model. Methods: Four classes of treatments were administered for 72 h to 16 foals subjected to complete ischaemia followed by reperfusion to create peritoneal adhesions. These groups were: 1) FPG group-...
Arden WA, Stick JA.To determine the reliability with which inorganic phosphorus (phosphate) concentrations can be used to predict major intestinal injury associated with equine colic, phosphate concentrations were measured in serum, peritoneal fluid, or both from 9 clinically normal adult horses (group A), 37 horses successfully managed medically for signs of abdominal pain (group B), 26 horses with signs of abdominal pain and undergoing exploratory laparotomy without intestinal resection (group C), and 26 horses undergoing intestinal resection or euthanasia for extensive intestinal lesions (group D). Peritoneal...
Hassel DM, Langer DL, Snyder JR, Drake CM, Goodell ML, Wyle A.To identify breed, age, sex, physical findings, history, and outcome of treatment in horses and other equids with enterolithiasis. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 900 equids with enterolithiasis. Methods: Medical records from equids with enterolithiasis admitted between 1973 and 1996 were reviewed. Data on signalment, history, physical examination and clinicopathologic findings, surgical findings, and outcome were compiled from records and from telephone interviews with owners. Sex and breed predilections were determined by comparison of the study population with the general hospital po...
Mansour C, Chaaya R, Sredensek J, Mocci R, Santangelo B, Allaouchiche B, Bonnet-Garin JM, Boselli E, Junot SA.To compare the sublingual microcirculation between healthy horses anesthetized for elective procedures and horses with colic anesthetized for abdominal surgery and to determine the effect of mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) on the microcirculation. Methods: 9 horses in the elective group and 8 horses in the colic group. Methods: Sublingual microcirculation was assessed with sidestream dark field video microscopy. Videos were captured at 3 time points during anesthesia. Recorded microvasculature parameters were De Backer score (DBS), total density of perfused vessels (PVD) and small vessels (...
Baxter GM, Hunt RJ, Tyler DE, Parks AH, Jackman BR.Hand sutured end-to-end (EE) and stapled side-to-side (SS) small intestinal anastomoses were performed in 10 healthy adult horses. In five SS anastomoses, staple lines on the blind ends of the jejunum were inverted (SSI) and in five they were not (SSNI). Five EE anastomoses were sutured with polydioxanone and five were sutured with polyglyconate. All horses were euthanatized on day 30. Intra-abdominal adhesions were graded (0-4), and stomal areas were calculated from contrast radiographs made with the bowel distended. Histopathology scores for the anastomoses were based on the degree of inflam...
Verhaar N, de Buhr N, von Köckritz-Blickwede M, Hewicker-Trautwein M, Pfarrer C, Mazzuoli-Weber G, Schulte H, Kästner S.Ischaemic postconditioning (IPoC) refers to brief periods of reocclusion of blood supply following an ischaemic event. This has been shown to ameliorate ischaemia reperfusion injury in different tissues, and it may represent a feasible therapeutic strategy for ischaemia reperfusion injury following strangulating small intestinal lesions in horses. The objective of this study was to assess the degree cell death, inflammation, oxidative stress, and heat shock response in an equine experimental jejunal ischaemia model with and without IPoC. Methods: In this randomized, controlled, experimental in...
Fontaine-Rodgerson G, Rodgerson DH.Transabdominal ultrasonography is frequently used to diagnose small intestinal intussusceptions in foals. We demonstrate that transabdominal ultrasonography also provides a rapid and accurate diagnosis of small intestinal intussusception in adult horses. A detailed description of the ultrasonographic appearance is provided.
Rodriguez F, Kramer J, Fales W, Wilson D, Keegan K.This study evaluated bacterial isolates obtained during abdominal surgery and their relationship to short-term incisional complications. Samples of peritoneal fluid and from resection and/or enterotomy sites from 49 horses were cultured, with 96% having at least one positive culture result. The most common isolates were Escherichia coli, Streptococcus spp, and Enterococcus spp. Horses with small intestinal resections were more likely to grow obligate anaerobes and enteric organisms. Horses with small intestinal lesions (+/- resection) were more likely to grow enteric organisms and less likely ...
Sullins KE, Stashak TS, Mero KN.Arteriovenous (ischemic strangulation obstruction, ISO) or venous (hemorrhagic strangulation obstruction, HSO) occlusions were created in the jejunum of 5 anesthetized horses and were left in situ for 1-, 2-, or 3-hour intervals. Segments were evaluated grossly for color, thickness, and motility. The horses were euthanatized, and the degree of mucosal slough, edema, congestion, and hemorrhage was determined histologically. Segments subjected to ISO became dark, but did not contain edema or hemorrhage. Segments subjected to HSO were characterized by progressive congestion, edema, and hemorrhage...
Hughes FE, Slone DE.To describe an alternative technique for large colon resection and anastomosis in horses. Methods: Retrospective study of clinical patients. Methods: 37 horses that had ventral midline celiotomies between July 1, 1990, and July 1, 1994. Methods: Large colon resection and anastomosis was performed using a modification of previously described techniques. Modifications include mesocolon ligation with a stapling device and an end-to-end apposition of the right ventral and right dorsal colon. Results: Twenty-one of the 37 horses were discharged from the hospital without complications. Two horses we...
De Ceulaer K, Delesalle C, Van Elzen R, Van Brantegem L, Weyns A, Van Ginneken C.Strangulation colic often leads to surgery. We aimed to document the molecular response in the non-resected intestine in these horses using quantitative Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. The expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1α) was investigated together with two molecular pathways initiated after protein destruction: proteasome degradation via ubiquitin chain formation and protein restoration via molecular chaperones such as inducible heat shock protein 70 (HSP70). In addition, the expression of c-fos and c-jun could indicate an early proinflammatory response....
Allison N, Gillis JP.Enteric pythiosis was diagnosed in a 2-year-old Quarter Horse gelding. The horse had signs of colic, which appeared to be alleviated by administration of mineral oil and analgesics, but only temporarily. Intestinal distention developed after initial examination. At surgery, a thick stenotic area was observed in the middle portion of the jejunum. The thick intestine and associated mesentery contained multiple firm nodules of gritty caseous material. Histopathologic findings included sclerosing eosinophilic granulomatous enteritis and peritonitis. Although the lesion resembled a response to migr...