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Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association2001; 219(1); 87-89; doi: 10.2460/javma.2001.219.87

Age distributions of horses with strangulation of the small intestine by a lipoma or in the epiploic foramen: 46 cases (1994-2000).

Abstract: To test the hypothesis that strangulation of the small intestine by a lipoma or in the epiploic foramen is more common in older horses. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 46 horses. Methods: Ages of horses with strangulation of the small intestine by a lipoma (n = 29) or in the epiploic foramen (17) were compared with ages of 79 horses with miscellaneous small intestinal lesions. Effects of increasing age on risk of the diseases of interest were examined by use of logistic regression and a 1-sided trend test for binomial proportions. Results: Mean age of the horses with strangulation in the epiploic foramen (9.6 years) was the same as that for the horses with miscellaneous small intestinal lesions (7.7), but mean age of the horses with strangulation by a lipoma (19.2) was significantly greater than that for the other groups. The proportion of horses with lipoma increased significantly with increasing age, but the proportion with strangulation in the epiploic foramen did not. Conclusions: Results refute the current suggestion that increasing age predisposes horses for strangulation of the small intestine in the epiploic foramen but support the suggestion that the risk of strangulation of the small intestine by a lipoma increases with age.
Publication Date: 2001-07-07 PubMed ID: 11439778DOI: 10.2460/javma.2001.219.87Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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The study aims to determine if intestinal strangulation in horses caused by a lipoma or epiploic foramen is more prevalent in older horses. It concludes that while the risk of strangulation by a lipoma increases with age, the same tendency is not observed with strangulation in the epiploic foramen.

Research Methodology

  • The study carried out was a retrospective analysis, looking back at previous documented cases.
  • A total of 46 horses were investigated, focusing on their age and the manner in which the small intestine was strangled.
  • Of the total cases, 29 involved strangulation of the small intestine by a lipoma, and 17 were in the epiploic foramen.
  • The ages of these horses were then compared with a larger group of 79 horses, which had miscellaneous small intestinal lesions.
  • The study used logistic regression and a 1-sided trend test for binomial proportions to examine the effects of increasing age on the risk of developing the aforementioned diseases.

Research Findings

  • The research found that the average age of horses that experienced strangulation in the epiploic foramen (9.6 years) was similar to that of horses with miscellaneous small intestinal lesions (7.7 years).
  • However, the mean age of horses with strangulation due to a lipoma was found to be significantly higher, i.e., 19.2 years.
  • It was also found that the proportion of horses with lipomas increased significantly with age, but the proportion experiencing intestinal strangulation in the epiploic foramen did not demonstrate a similar trend.

Research Conclusions

  • The results of the study contradict a suggestion in current research that older age predisposes horses to small intestinal strangulation in the epiploic foramen.
  • However, the study does reinforce another suggestion of current research that the risk for a horse to suffer small intestinal strangulation due to a lipoma, indeed, increases with age.

Cite This Article

APA
Freeman DE, Schaeffer DJ. (2001). Age distributions of horses with strangulation of the small intestine by a lipoma or in the epiploic foramen: 46 cases (1994-2000). J Am Vet Med Assoc, 219(1), 87-89. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2001.219.87

Publication

ISSN: 0003-1488
NlmUniqueID: 7503067
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 219
Issue: 1
Pages: 87-89

Researcher Affiliations

Freeman, D E
  • Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL 61802, USA.
Schaeffer, D J

    MeSH Terms

    • Age Distribution
    • Animals
    • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
    • Horse Diseases / etiology
    • Horses
    • Intestinal Obstruction / epidemiology
    • Intestinal Obstruction / etiology
    • Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
    • Intestine, Small / pathology
    • Lipoma / complications
    • Lipoma / epidemiology
    • Lipoma / veterinary
    • Retrospective Studies
    • Risk Factors

    Citations

    This article has been cited 7 times.
    1. Erwin SJ, Clark ME, Dechant JE, Aitken MR, Hassel DM, Blikslager AT, Ziegler AL. Multi-Institutional Retrospective Case-Control Study Evaluating Clinical Outcomes of Foals with Small Intestinal Strangulating Obstruction: 2000-2020. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 27;12(11).
      doi: 10.3390/ani12111374pubmed: 35681837google scholar: lookup
    2. Fortin JS, Royal AB, Kuroki K. Concurrent thoracic mesothelioma and thyroid C-cell adenoma with amyloid deposition in an aged horse. Vet Med Sci 2018 Feb;4(1):63-70.
      doi: 10.1002/vms3.87pubmed: 29468082google scholar: lookup
    3. Grzeskowiak RM, Barrett EJ, Rodgerson DH. Cecal entrapment within the epiploic foramen in a mare. Can Vet J 2017 Aug;58(8):842-844.
      pubmed: 28761191
    4. Chum HH, Long CT, McKeon GP, Chang AG, Luong RH, Albertelli MA. Abdominal lipomatosis with secondary self-strangulation of masses in an adult rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). Comp Med 2014 Oct;64(5):404-8.
      pubmed: 25402181
    5. Archer DC, Pinchbeck GL, Proudman CJ, Clough HE. Is equine colic seasonal? Novel application of a model based approach. BMC Vet Res 2006 Aug 24;2:27.
      doi: 10.1186/1746-6148-2-27pubmed: 16930473google scholar: lookup
    6. Abutarbush SM, Carmalt JL, Shoemaker RW. Causes of gastrointestinal colic in horses in western Canada: 604 cases (1992 to 2002). Can Vet J 2005 Sep;46(9):800-5.
      pubmed: 16231649
    7. Gillen A, Archer D, Ireland J, Rocchigiani G. Characterising equine abdominal lipomata: Can histological features improve the understanding of pathogenesis and risk?. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1490-1499.
      doi: 10.1111/evj.14483pubmed: 39980244google scholar: lookup