Abdominal surgery in foals: a review of 119 cases (1977-1994).
Abstract: The case records of 119 young horses (all less than age one year) that underwent an exploratory celiotomy during a 17 year period were examined to determine the surgical findings, short- and long-term outcome, and prevalence of small intestinal disease compared to previous reports in the mature horse. Physical and laboratory values were compared for long-term survivors vs. nonsurvivors and the frequency of post operative intra-abdominal adhesions was determined. The most common cause for exploratory celiotomy was small intestinal strangulation, followed by enteritis and uroperitoneum. Six horses died during surgery, 23 were subjected to euthanasia at the time of surgery due to a grave prognosis, and 17 horses died or were destroyed after surgery, prior to discharge from the hospital; the short-term survival was 61%. Nine horses were lost to follow-up. Forty-one horses survived long-term (at least 6 months after surgery), 15 died or were subjected to euthanasia after discharge for reasons related to the prior abdominal surgery, and 8 died or were destroyed after discharge due to unrelated reasons, making the long-term survival 45%. Fifty-three (45%) of the horses presented as neonates, and 66 (55%) presented age 3-12 months. Uroperitoneum and meconium impaction were the most common disease in the neonate. Intussusception and enteritis were the most common diseases in older foals. The overall prevalence of small intestinal disease was 44%. Significant elevations in packed cell volume, heart rate, nucleated cell counts and total protein in abdominal fluid and rectal temperature were observed in nonsurvivors compared to survivors. Nonsurvivors had significantly decreased serum bicarbonate, chloride, sodium, and venous pH values. There was no evidence that location of the lesion affected long-term survival. Horses with a simple obstruction had a higher survival percentage than those with a strangulating obstruction, and horses that underwent an intestinal resection had a lower long-term survival than those horses undergoing only intestinal manipulation. Nineteen (33%) of the foals examined after the original surgery had evidence of intra-abdominal adhesions. Nine of these (16%) had adhesions that caused a clinical problem.
Publication Date: 1997-07-01 PubMed ID: 15338904DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb03120.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research paper studied 119 foals (young horses less than a year old) that underwent abdominal surgery over a 17-year period and investigated surgical findings, survival results, and prevalence of small intestinal diseases.
Study Design and Subjects
- The study reviewed the cases of 119 foals that underwent exploratory celiotomy or abdominal surgery.
- Data was gathered over a 17-year period, making the study longitudinal in nature.
- Subjects were all young horses, less than one year of age.
Surgical Findings
- The most common reasons for surgery were small intestinal strangulation, enteritis (inflammation of the intestine), and uroperitoneum (urine in the peritoneum).
- Among these, small intestinal strangulation was the most prevalent.
- There were other findings such as simple obstruction and intestinal resection (removal).
Survival Outcome
- Short-term survival (immediately after surgery) was 61%. Six foals died during the procedure, and 40 others either succumbed after surgery or were euthanized due to severe prognosis.
- Long-term survival (at least 6 months post-surgery) was 45%. Some foals died or were euthanized after discharge for reasons related, and unrelated, to the surgery.
- Simple obstruction conditions showed a higher survival rate than strangulating obstruction conditions.
- Long-term survival was lower for horses that underwent intestinal resection.
Prevalence of Small Intestinal Disease
- In this study, 53 (45%) of the foals were neonates, and 66 (55%) were aged between 3-12 months.
- The most common ailments differed for each age group. For neonates, uroperitoneum and meconium impaction were most prevalent.
- For older foals, intussusception (infolding of one segment of intestine into another) and enteritis were more frequent.
- Overall, the occurrence rate of small intestinal disease was 44%.
Postoperative Adhesions
- After surgery, intra-abdominal adhesions were found in 33% of the foals examined.
- Of these, 16% had adhesions that caused clinical issues.
Laboratory Values
- Nonsurviving foals showed higher values of packed cell volume, heart rate, nucleated cell counts, total protein in abdominal fluid, and rectal temperature, compared to surviving foals.
- The levels of serum bicarbonate, chloride, sodium, and venous pH were significantly lower in nonsurvivors.
- The location of the lesion did not affect the survival outcome.
Cite This Article
APA
Cable CS, Fubini SL, Erb HN, Hakes JE.
(1997).
Abdominal surgery in foals: a review of 119 cases (1977-1994).
Equine Vet J, 29(4), 257-261.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1997.tb03120.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Cornell University, College of Veterinary Medicine, Department of Clinical Sciences, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Abdomen
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Female
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Intestinal Diseases / mortality
- Intestinal Diseases / surgery
- Intestinal Diseases / veterinary
- Intestine, Small / surgery
- Male
- Postoperative Complications / mortality
- Postoperative Complications / surgery
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Prognosis
- Retrospective Studies
- Survival Analysis
- Tissue Adhesions / mortality
- Tissue Adhesions / surgery
- Tissue Adhesions / veterinary
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
