Attempted medical management of suspected ascending colon displacement in horses.

This research paper investigated the efficacy of medical management for treating horses with suspected displacement of the ascending (large) colon, concluding that medical treatment demonstrated a high success rate.

Objective and Methods

• The purpose of this study was to assess how effective medical management was for treating suspected displacement of the ascending colon in horses. This condition, also known as large colon displacement, can cause severe discomfort in horses and is typically diagnosed through a clinical examination and sometimes, subsequent surgical examination.
• This was a retrospective case study over a decade (1998 to 2008) reviewing 127 horses with suspected large colon displacement.
• Medically managed horses were put through an exercise routine and received intravenous fluids and analgesia. If left dorsal displacement (LDD) of the large colon was suspected, horses also received phenylephrine.

Results

• The outcome of the study highlighted that medical management had a high rate of success in treating horses with suspected right dorsal displacement (RDD) and LDD of the large colon, with 64% and 76% success rates respectively.
• During the treatment, four horses died or were euthanized and 36 horses underwent surgery.
• Of the total of 127 horses treated medically or surgically for a colon displacement, 94% survived and were discharged from the hospital.

Conclusion

• The study concluded that horses with suspected RDD or LDD of the large colon could respond positively to medical management which included exercise.
• This finding is significant as it suggests non-surgical intervention could be a viable solution for managing colon displacement in horses, potentially reducing both the risk and cost involved in surgical treatment.