Comparison of end-to-side versus side-to-side jejunocecostomy in horses.
Abstract: To compare end-to-side (ES) and side-to-side (SS) jejunocecostomy (JC) in healthy horses. Methods: Experimental study in vivo. Methods: A total of 14 healthy adult horses underwent ventral midline celiotomy, a resection, and either an ES (n = 7) or stapled SS (n = 7) JC. Methods: Surgical times and the external lengths of completed anastomoses were measured. Physical examinations and pain scoring were performed every 6 h for 5 days, then once daily until euthanasia and necropsy 28 days postoperatively. Results: The anastomosis was completed more rapidly (p < .002) with the SS JC (mean 44.21 ± 4.91 min) than the ES JC (mean 54.24 ± 4.59 min). One horse in the ES group developed colic from an ischemic anastomosis and was euthanized. Three horses (1 ES JC and 2 SS JC) exhibited mild colic postoperatively, and the remaining horses had no complications. Postoperative heart rates and pain scores were similar between groups (p < .16 and p < .67, respectively). The internal length of the anastomosis was significantly larger (p < .001) in the SS JC (mean 9.27 ± 1.05 cm) than the ES JC (mean 6.31 ± 1.4 cm) at necropsy. Conclusions: Both methods for JC were well tolerated and functional in both groups using the selected protocols for anesthesia, surgery and aftercare. Conclusions: This study provides evidence that both stapled SS JC and handsewn ES JC are acceptable for use in clinical cases, although additional procedures are required to maximize lumen size with the ES JC.
© 2025 American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Publication Date: 2024-12-19 PubMed ID: 39698993DOI: 10.1111/vsu.14200Google Scholar: Lookup
The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
- Comparative Study
Summary
This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.
This research article is a comparative study of two surgical methods: end-to-side (ES) and side-to-side (SS) jejunocecostomy (JC) in horses, investigating surgical times, anastomosis lengths, and postoperative symptoms in each method.
Background and Objectives
- The research attempted to compare the merits and demerits of two types of jejunocecostomy (JC) surgeries, namely end-to-side (ES) and side-to-side (SS), used for repairing the digestive system in horses.
- The main objective was to examine surgical times, measure the external lengths of resulting anastomoses, monitor physical health, and evaluate pain levels in the subjects post-surgery.
Methods
- A total of 14 healthy adult horses were included in the study and were divided into two groups, each undergoing either an ES or SS JC.
- Every horse went through a ventral midline celiotomy, a type of abdominal surgery leading to organ resection, followed by the designated JC procedure.
- The horses were monitored continuously for five days post-surgery through physical examinations and pain scoring every six hours, and once daily until the end of the experimental period.
- The study’s endpoint was marked by euthanasia and subsequent necropsy 28 days after the procedures.
Results
- Results showed that the anastomosis was completed more quickly in the SS JC group, compared to the ES JC group. One horse from the ES group developed colic, due to a restricted blood supply at the anastomosis, and was euthanized.
- Three horses showed mild colic symptoms post-surgery but there were no other significant issues or complications among the rest of the subjects.
- Heart rates and pain scores post-surgery did not significantly differ between the two groups.
- Internally, the length of the anastomosis area was notably larger in the SS JC group.
Conclusions
- Both ES and SS JC methods were found to be tolerable and functional, indicating that they can be used reliably in clinical practices for horses.
- However, ES JC may require additional procedures to enlarge the lumen size.
Cite This Article
APA
Moyer EK, Bauck AG, Denagamage T, Freeman DE.
(2024).
Comparison of end-to-side versus side-to-side jejunocecostomy in horses.
Vet Surg, 54(2), 410-419.
https://doi.org/10.1111/vsu.14200 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
- Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Horses / surgery
- Anastomosis, Surgical / veterinary
- Anastomosis, Surgical / methods
- Male
- Female
- Cecostomy / veterinary
- Cecostomy / methods
- Jejunostomy / veterinary
- Jejunostomy / methods
Grant Funding
- Arden and Claudia Sims Grant
References
This article includes 23 references
- Rendle DI, Woodt JL, Summerhays GE, Walmsley JP, Boswell JC, Phillips TJ. End‐to‐end jejuno‐ileal anastomosis following resection of strangulated small intestine in horses: a comparative study.. Equine Vet J 2005;37(4):356‐359.
- Proudman CJ, Edwards GB, Barnes J, French NR. Factors affecting long‐term survival of horses recovering from surgery of the small intestine.. Equine Vet J 2005;37(4):360‐365.
- Garcia‐Seco E, Wilson DA, Kramer J. Prevalence and risk factors associated with outcome of surgical removal of pedunculated lipomas in horses: 102 cases (1987–2002).. J Am Vet Med Assoc 2005;226(9):1529‐1537.
- Morton AJ, Blikslager AT. Surgical and postoperative factors influencing short‐term survival of horses following small intestinal resection: 92 cases (1994–2001).. Equine Vet J 2002;34(5):450‐454.
- Stewart S, Southwood LL, Aceto HW. Comparison of short‐ and long‐term complications and survival following jejunojejunostomy, jejunoileostomy and jejunocaecostomy in 112 horses: 2005‐2010.. Equine Vet J 2014;46(3):333‐338.
- Rudnick MJ, Denagamage TN, Freeman DE. Effects of age, disease and anastomosis on short‐ and long‐term survival after surgical correction of small intestinal strangulating diseases in 89 horses.. Equine Vet J 2022;54(6):1031‐1038.
- Freeman DE, Schaeffer DJ. A comparison of handsewn versus stapled jejunocecostomy in horses – complications and long‐term survival: 32 cases (1994–2005).. JAVMA 2010;237:1060‐1067.
- Donawick WJ, Christie BA, Stewart JV. Resection of diseased ileum in the horse.. J Am Vet Med Assoc 1971;159(9):1146‐1149.
- Mason TA, Johnston DE, Wallace CE, Christie BA. Laparotomy in equine colic‐‐a report of thirteen clinical cases.. Aust Vet J 1970;46(8):349‐355.
- Röcken M, Ross MW. Vergleichsstudie über die Jejunocecostomie als End‐zu‐Seitanastomose und Seit‐zu‐Seitanastomose.. Pferdheilkunde 1994;10:311‐315.
- Brown JA, Holcombe SJ, Southwood LL, Byron CR, Embertson RM, Hauptmann JG. End‐to‐side versus side‐to‐side Jejunocecostomy in horses: a retrospective analysis of 150 cases.. Vet Surg 2015;44(4):527‐533.
- Smith MA, Edwards GB, Dallap BL, Cripps PJ, Proudman CJ. Evaluation of the clinical efficacy of prokinetic drugs in the management of post‐operative ileus: can retrospective data help us?. Vet J 2005;170(2):230‐236.
- Blackwell RB. Jejunocaecostomy in the horse: a comparison of two techniques.. Proceedings of the Equine Colic Research Symposium 1982:288‐289.
- Baxter GM, Hunt RJ, Tyler DE, Parks AH, Jackman BR. Sutured end‐to‐end and stapled side‐to‐side jejunal anastomoses in the horse.. Vet Surg 1992;21(1):47‐55.
- Chanutin S, Bauck AG, Roberts JF, Denagamage T, Freeman DE. Comparison of two techniques to blind end jejunum and ileum for jejunocecostomy in horses.. Equine Vet J 2024.
- Man J, Hrabe J. Anastomotic technique‐how to optimize success and minimize leak rates.. Clin Colon Rectal Surg 2021;34:371‐378.
- Edwards GB. Resection and anastomosis of small intestine: current methods applicable to the horse.. Equine Vet J 1986;18(4):322‐330.
- Pritchett LC, Ulibarri C, Roberts MC, Schneider RK, Sellon DC. Identification of potential physiological and behavioral indicators of postoperative pain in horses after exploratory celiotomy for colic.. Appl Anim Behav Sci 2003;80:31‐43.
- Freeman DE. Jejunum and Ileum.. Equine Surgery 2019:536‐575.
- Hocking MP, Carlson RG, Courington KR, Bland KI. Altered motility and bacterial flora after functional end‐to‐end anastomosis.. Surgery 1990;108(2):384‐392.
- Huskamp B. Diagnosis and treatment of acute abdominal conditions in the horse; various types and frequency as seen at the animal hospital in Hochmoor.. Proceedings of the Equine Colic Research Symposium 1982:61‐272.
- Seitz‐Cherner E, Bauck AG, Denagamage T, Freeman DE. Ex vivo and in vivo evaluation of a modified interrupted Lembert pattern for small intestinal anastomoses in horses.. Vet Surg 2023;52(3):407‐415.
- Bauck AG, Easley JT, Cleary OB. Response to early repeat celiotomy in horses after a surgical treatment of jejunal strangulation.. Vet Surg 2017;46(6):843‐850.
Use Nutrition Calculator
Check if your horse's diet meets their nutrition requirements with our easy-to-use tool Check your horse's diet with our easy-to-use tool
Talk to a Nutritionist
Discuss your horse's feeding plan with our experts over a free phone consultation Discuss your horse's diet over a phone consultation
Submit Diet Evaluation
Get a customized feeding plan for your horse formulated by our equine nutritionists Get a custom feeding plan formulated by our nutritionists
