Clinical features and prognostic variables in 109 horses with esophageal obstruction (1992-2009).
Abstract: Esophageal obstruction is common in horses and can result in life-threatening complications. Previous studies have described clinical findings in horses with esophageal obstruction, but there are no reports that attempt to make correlations of clinical findings with outcome. Objective: Specific clinical features of horses with esophageal obstruction are associated with increased likelihood of complications. Methods: One hundred and nine horses with esophageal obstruction. Methods: Retrospective cross-sectional study. All clinical records of horses admitted between April 1992 and February 2009 for esophageal obstruction were reviewed. The association among 24 clinical, hematological, biochemical, therapeutic variables and the likelihood of complications was investigated by a univariable logistic regression model, followed by multivariable analysis. Results: Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that intact males (P= .02), age >15 years (P < .01), and a need for general anesthesia (P < .01) were associated with the development of complications after an episode of esophageal obstruction. Increased respiratory rate (>22 breaths/min) and moderate or severe tracheal contamination, although not associated with complications as a whole, significantly increased the risk of developing aspiration pneumonia (P≤ .01). Conclusions: Signalment, clinical variables, and endoscopic findings were confirmed as important tools in assessing the severity of the esophageal lesion and pulmonary involvement. Knowledge of risk factors for the development of complications will aid in making informed decisions to optimize treatment and assist in the assessment of prognosis.
Copyright © 2010 by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine.
Publication Date: 2010-08-12 PubMed ID: 20707844DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0573.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Clinical Examination
- Clinical Findings
- Clinical Pathology
- Clinical Signs
- Clinical Study
- Complications
- Diagnosis
- Disease Diagnosis
- Disease Management
- Disease Treatment
- Equine Health
- Esophagus
- Horses
- Prognosis
- Regression Analysis
- Retrospective Study
- Risk Factors
- Veterinary Medicine
- Veterinary Practice
- Veterinary Research
Summary
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The research article investigates the clinical features and medical variables in horses suffering from esophageal obstruction and how these correspond to increasing chances of complications. The focus is on identifying risk factors to facilitate better treatment decisions and prognosis.
Objective and Methods
The primary goal of the research was to identify specific clinical characteristics in horses with esophageal obstruction that were associated with an increased risk of complications. It was conducted as a retrospective cross-sectional study, where all relevant clinical records of horses, admitted between April 1992 and February 2009 for esophageal obstruction, were reviewed.
- A total of 109 horses suffering from esophageal obstruction were part of the study.
- The researchers explored a potential link between 24 clinical, hematological (related to blood and blood-forming organs), biochemical and therapeutic variables, and the likelihood of complications.
- A univariable logistic regression model, followed by a multivariable analysis, was used for this investigation.
Findings
Based on the applied statistical analysis, the study discovered several potential risk factors associated with the development of complications following an episode of esophageal obstruction.
- Males that have not been castrated (intact males) were found to be at an increased risk of complications (P= .02).
- Horses older than 15 years had a higher chance of developing complications (P < .01).
- A need for general anesthesia also corresponded to an increased complication risk (P < .01).
- An elevated respiratory rate (>22 breaths/min) or moderate to severe tracheal (related to the windpipe) contamination, significantly raised the risk of developing aspiration pneumonia, a specific complication in this case (P≤ .01).
Conclusion
In summarising the results, the researchers state that clinical variables, the horses’ signalment (facts about the animal such as age, breed, sex), and endoscopic findings are valuable tools in assessing the severity of esophageal lesions and potential lung involvement. By understanding these risk factors, veterinarians can make better-informed treatment decisions and provide a more accurate prognosis for horses with esophageal obstruction.
Cite This Article
APA
Chiavaccini L, Hassel DM.
(2010).
Clinical features and prognostic variables in 109 horses with esophageal obstruction (1992-2009).
J Vet Intern Med, 24(5), 1147-1152.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1939-1676.2010.0573.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Acepromazine / therapeutic use
- Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / therapeutic use
- Animals
- Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
- Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / therapeutic use
- Cross-Sectional Studies
- Dopamine Antagonists / therapeutic use
- Esophageal Diseases / drug therapy
- Esophageal Diseases / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / pathology
- Horses
- Male
- Prognosis
- Retrospective Studies
Citations
This article has been cited 10 times.- Mańkowska A, Dobraczyńska BM, Szewczak J, Chodup Z, Radzanowski B, Matychyn I, Witkowska D. Preliminary Assessment of Leisure Horses' Preferences for Different Forms of Carrot (Daucus carota subsp. sativus). Animals (Basel) 2025 Nov 24;15(23).
- Connolly KM, Estell K. Dysphagia in an equine referral hospital, 182 cases. Equine Vet J 2026 Jan;58(1):134-142.
- Hepworth-Warren KL, Love K. Survey of the approach to the diagnosis and management of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses by equine veterinarians. Front Vet Sci 2024;11:1484970.
- Hallowell KL, Hepworth-Warren KL, Dembek K. An updated description of bacterial pneumonia in adult horses and factors associated with death. J Vet Intern Med 2024 Sep-Oct;38(5):2766-2775.
- Zabady MK, Shawaf T. A retrospective study of choke (oesophageal obstruction) in 64 one-hump Dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius) in Saudi Arabia. Vet Rec Open 2022 Dec;9(1):e53.
- Migliorisi A, Barger A, Austin S, Foreman JH, Wilkins P. Hyponatremia in horses with septic pneumopathy. J Vet Intern Med 2022 Sep;36(5):1820-1826.
- Nijdam P, Elmas C, Fugazzola MC. Treatment of an Esophageal Stricture in a 1-Month-Old Miniature Shetland Colt. Case Rep Vet Med 2017;2017:3069419.
- Oyama MA, Ellenberg SS, Shaw PA. Clinical Trials in Veterinary Medicine: A New Era Brings New Challenges. J Vet Intern Med 2017 Jul;31(4):970-978.
- Koenig JB, Silveira A, Cribb NC, Piat P, Laverty S, Sorge US. Clinical indications, complications, and long-term outcome of esophageal surgeries in 27 horses. Can Vet J 2016 Dec;57(12):1257-1262.
- Prutton JS, Marks SL, Aleman M. Endoscopic Balloon Dilation of Esophageal Strictures in 9 Horses. J Vet Intern Med 2015 Jul-Aug;29(4):1105-11.
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