Cecal amputation within the right ventral colon for surgical treatment of nonreducible cecocolic intussusception in 8 horses.

This study outlines a surgical method used in treating nonreducible cecocolic intussusception in horses and discusses its outcomes based on data from eight cases. The method involves the amputation of the cecum through a right ventral colotomy.

Research Methodology

• The research is a retrospective study and used data gathered from the medical records of eight horses, which were treated with nonreducible cecocolic intussusception through a right ventral colotomy.
• The data was further supplemented by telephone conversations with horse owners through a standardized questionnaire.
• The surgical technique involved exteriorizing and evacuating the large colon through a pelvic flexure enterotomy, if necessary.
• A second colotomy was performed on the ventral surface of the right ventral colon (RVC) near the intussusceptum. Manual attempts to reduce the intussusception were usually unsuccessful.
• The invaginated (telescoped) cecum was then pulled into the RVC and amputated, secured by either an umbilical tape ligation or suturing proximally.
• Following amputation, the remaining invaginated cecum was reduced, further resection was done to healthy tissue, and the typhlectomy (caecal removal) site was secured by double-inverting suture pattern.

Results

• The median age of the horses that underwent the treatment was 2 years, with a range of 1 to 8 years.
• Colic, a common stomach issue in horses causing discomfort and distress, duration ranged from 6 hours to 6 months.
• The median surgical time was 3 hours (180 minutes), ranging from 135 to 300 minutes.
• Antibiotic therapy was required post-surgery, with a median duration of 7 days, and a range of 5 to 14 days.
• The median hospitalization period after the surgery was 12 days, with a range from 6 to 21 days.
• All treated horses survived to hospital discharge, while one horse died 3 months postoperatively.
• The remaining horses survived post operation for a median of 30 months, ranging between 6 to 96 months, and were able to return to or exceed their previous function.

Conclusions

• Despite the likelihood of some contamination during surgery, the horses with nonreducible cecocolic intussusception that underwent this surgical method had positive prognosis.
• The research thus suggests that this surgical method can be effective in treating nonreducible cecocolic intussusception in horses.