Clinical assessment and outcome of three techniques for jejunal resection and anastomosis in horses: 59 cases (1989-2000).

The study compares the performance, post-surgical complications, and survival rates among three methods of jejunal resection (removal of a part of the small intestine) in horses. The three tested techniques include hand-sewn end-to-end (EE), stapled functional end-to-end (FEE), and stapled side-to-side (SS) connections. The results highlight similar surgery duration and survival rates for all techniques, however, the stapled SS method indicated a shorter duration of subsequent post-surgical ileus (intestinal obstruction).

Study Methodology

• The researchers conducted a retrospective study on 59 horses that underwent a jejunojejunostomy (surgical connection of two parts of the jejunum, which is a part of the small intestine).
• Medical records were examined to collect vital data – the horse’s identification, diagnosis, treatment procedure, and post-procedural outcome.
• The study only included horses that had recovered from anesthesia after surgery.

Study Findings

• The study found no variation in the duration of surgery among the three intestinal anastomosis methods.
• The most frequent complications-post surgery included colic episodes, ileus, diarrhea, and adhesions – as experienced by 56%, 53%, 20%, and 15% of the cases, respectively.
• Horses that received the SS anastomosis had a significantly shorter duration of postoperative ileus compared to the EE group. However, no such difference was observed among the other study groups.

Survival Rates and Conclusions

• The three anastomotic techniques showed no differences in the survival rates upon discharge, 6 months post-surgery, or one year later.
• Across all three techniques, the overall survival rates after jejunal anastomosis were 88% at discharge, 65% six months later, and 57% at or beyond one-year post-operation.
• In conclusion, while all three methods of small intestinal anastomosis are considered to be equivalent, the stapled SS technique may be a more preferable choice due to the potential reduction in the duration of postoperative ileus.