FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Can Vet J / Complications and survival in horses with surgically confirm...
The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne2019; 60(4); 381-385;

Complications and survival in horses with surgically confirmed right dorsal displacement of the large colon.

Abstract: This study compared post-operative complications and survival in horses with right dorsal displacement of the large colon (RDD) and horses with other non-strangulating large colon (NSLC) lesions. Data were obtained from medical records of horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy from 2000 to 2016 and from owner questionnaire. Of 137 horses that fitted the inclusion criteria, 67 (49%) had RDD and 70 (51%) had NSLC lesions. Twenty-eight horses with RDD (42%) and 27 horses with NSLC (39%) experienced ≥ 1 complication after surgery. The RDD group showed more severe complications than the NSLC group (P = 0.0145). Horses with RDD were more likely to develop colic in the short term (P = 0.0111), but not in the long-term (P = 0.453), and were more likely to have a 2nd laparotomy (P = 0.0003). There was no significant difference in short- or long-term survival between groups. Major post-operative complications in the RDD group did not influence short- or long-term survival. Complications et survie des chevaux atteints d’un déplacement dorsal droit du gros côlon confirmé par chirurgie. Cette étude a comparé les complications et la survie postopératoires chez les chevaux atteints d’un déplacement dorsal droit du gros côlon (DDD) et les chevaux atteints d’autres lésions non étranglantes du gros côlon (LNEGC). Des données ont été obtenues dans les dossiers médicaux de chevaux qui avaient subi une laparatomie exploratoire entre 2000 et 2016 et dans un questionnaire auprès des propriétaires. Parmi les 137 chevaux qui satisfaisaient aux critères d’inclusion, 67 (49 %) avaient eu un DDD et 70 (51 %) avaient eu des lésions LNEGC. Vingt-huit chevaux atteints d’un DDD (42 %) et 27 chevaux qui avaient une LNEGC (39 %) ont éprouvé ≥ 1 complication après la chirurgie. Le groupe DDD a manifesté des complications plus graves que le groupe LNEGC (P = 0,0145). Il était plus probable que les chevaux atteints de DDD développent des coliques à court terme (P = 0,0111), mais pas à long terme (P = 0,453) et il était plus probable qu’ils aient à subir une deuxième laparotomie (P = 0,0003). Il n’y avait aucune différence significative au niveau de la survie à court ou à long terme entre les groupes. Les complications postopératoires majeures du groupe DDD n’ont pas influencé la survie à court ou à long terme.(Traduit par Isabelle Vallières).
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2019-04-18 PubMed ID: 30992593PubMed Central: PMC6417614
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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article

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.

The research article examines the post-operative complications and survival rate of horses with two specific conditions related to large colon dysfunction. The conditions are right dorsal displacement (RDD) and non-strangulating large colon (NSLC) lesions, and the authors assess their impact on the equine population studied over a 16-year period.

Study Design and Data Collection

  • The authors extracted data from the 16-year long medical records of horses that underwent exploratory laparotomy, an abdominal surgical procedure performed to examine abdominal organs. Furthermore, they utilized an owner questionnaire for supplemental information.
  • The sample included 137 horses, out of which 67 had RDD (49%), and 70 had NSLC lesions (51%).

Post-Operative Complications

  • This study revealed that the RDD group displayed more severe complications than the NSLC group, evidenced by a significant statistical difference in the two groups (p = 0.0145).
  • There were 28 horses with RDD (42%) and 27 horses with NSLC (39%) that experienced one or more complications after the surgery.
  • Horses with RDD were more likely to develop colic, a severe digestive issue, in the short term (p = 0.0111), although this propensity didn’t carry over to the long-term (p = 0.453).
  • Another noteworthy finding was that horses with RDD were more inclined to require a second laparotomy (p = 0.0003).

Survival Rates

  • The research found no significant difference in short-term or long-term survival between the RDD and NSLC groups, implying that despite the varying severity of complications, the overall chances of survival were not affected.
  • Even among horses with major post-operative complications in the RDD group, these complications didn’t negatively influence their short- or long-term survival.

All in all, this research provides valuable insights into how RDD and NSLC lesions affect horses post-operatively and can influence future treatment decisions and prognosis for these conditions.

Cite This Article

APA
Whyard JM, Brounts SH. (2019). Complications and survival in horses with surgically confirmed right dorsal displacement of the large colon. Can Vet J, 60(4), 381-385.

Publication

The Canadian veterinary journal = La revue veterinaire canadienne
ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 60
Issue: 4
Pages: 381-385

Researcher Affiliations

Whyard, Jennifer M
  • Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1215 Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.
Brounts, Sabrina H
  • Department of Surgical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1215 Linden Drive, Madison, Wisconsin 53706, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Colic / veterinary
  • Colonic Diseases / veterinary
  • Horse Diseases
  • Horses
  • Postoperative Complications / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies

References

This article includes 26 references
  1. Hackett RP. Displacement of the large colon.. In: Mair TS, Divers TJ, Ducharme NG, editors. Manual of Equine Gastroenterology. 1st ed. St. Louis, Missouri: WB Saunders; 2002. pp. 284–288.
  2. Smith LJ, Mair TS. Are horses that undergo an exploratory laparotomy for correction of a right dorsal displacement of the large colon predisposed to post operative colic, compared to other forms of large colon displacement?. Equine Vet J 2010;42:44–46.
    pubmed: 20121912
  3. Rakestraw PC, Hardy J. Large intestine.. In: Auer JA, Stick JA, editors. Equine Surgery. 4th ed. St. Louis, Missouri: Elsevier; 2012. pp. 463–476.
  4. Proudman CJ, Edwards GB, Barnes J, French NP. Modelling long-term survival of horses following surgery for large intestinal disease.. Equine Vet J 2005;37:366–370.
    pubmed: 16028630
  5. Huskamp B, Kopf N. Right dorsal displacement of the large colon in the horse.. Equine Pract 1983;5:20–28.
  6. Foerner JJ. Diseases of the large intestine: Differential diagnosis and surgical management.. Vet Clin North Am Equine Pract 1982;4:129–146.
    pubmed: 7101688
  7. Sellers AF, Lowe JE. Review of large intestinal motility and mechanisms of impaction in the horse.. Equine Vet J 1986;18:261–263.
    pubmed: 3530744
  8. Weese JS, Holcombe SJ, Embertson RM. Changes in the faecal microbiota of mares precede the development of post partum colic.. Equine Vet J 2015;47:641–649.
    pubmed: 25257320
  9. French NP, Smith J, Edwards GB, Proudman CJ. Equine risk factors for postoperative complications.. Equine Vet J 2002;34:444–449.
    pubmed: 12358045
  10. Proudman CJ, Smith JE, Edwards GB, French NP. Long-term survival of equine surgical colic cases. Part 1: Patterns of mortality and morbidity.. Equine Vet J 2002;34:432–437.
    pubmed: 12358043
  11. Mair TS, Smith LJ. Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 1: Short-term survival following a single laparotomy.. Equine Vet J 2005;37:296–302.
    pubmed: 16028616
  12. Mair TS, Smith LJ. Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 2: Short-term complications.. Equine Vet J 2005;37:303–309.
    pubmed: 16028617
  13. Mair TS, Smith LJ. Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 3: Long-term complications and survival.. Equine Vet J 2005;37:310–314.
    pubmed: 16028618
  14. Southwood LL, Bergsline K, Jacob A. Large colon displacement and volvulus in horses: 495 cases 1987–1999.. Proc 7th International Equine Colic Research Symposium Manchester, UK. July 14–16, 2002; pp. 32–33.
  15. Van der Linden MA, Laffont CM, Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan MM. Prognosis in equine medical and surgical colic.. J Vet Intern Med 2003;17:343–348.
    pubmed: 12774977
  16. McGovern KF, Suthers JM, James FM. Gastric impaction associated with displacement and volvulus of the large colon in seven mature horses.. Equine Vet Educ 2015;27:453–459.
  17. Mc Govern KF, Bladon BM, Fraser BSL, Boston RC. Attempted medical management of suspected ascending colon displacement in horses.. Vet Surg 2011;41:399–403.
    pubmed: 22103338
  18. Blikslager AT. Gastric impaction and large colon volvulus: Can one lead to the other?. Equine Vet Educ 2015;27:460–461.
  19. Pavone S, Gialletti R, Pepe M, Onofri A, Mandara MT. Histological and immunohistochemical studies of changes in myenteric plexuses and in interstitial cells of Cajal associated with equine colic.. Res Vet Sci 2012;93:350–359.
    pubmed: 21875728
  20. Der T, Bercik P, Donnelly G. Interstitial cells of Cajal and inflammation-induced motor dysfunction in the mouse small intestine.. Gastroenterology 2000;119:1590–1599.
    pubmed: 11113080
  21. Fintl C, Hudson NP, Mayhew IG, Edwards GB, Proudman CJ, Pearson GT. Interstitial cells of Cajal (ICC) in equine colic: An immunohistochemical study of horses with obstructive disorders of the small and large intestines.. Equine Vet J 2004;36:474–479.
    pubmed: 15460070
  22. Mair TS, Smith LJ. Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 4: Early (acute) relaparotomy.. Equine Vet J 2005;37:315–318.
    pubmed: 16028619
  23. Kristman V, Manno M, Côté P. Loss to follow-up in cohort studies: How much is too much?. Eur J Epidemiol 2004;19:751–760.
    pubmed: 15469032
  24. Shires GM, Kaneps AJ, Wagner PC, Schmotzer WB. A retrospective review of 219 cases of equine colic.. Proc 2nd Equine Colic Research Symposium Athens, Georgia. 1986; pp. 239–241.
  25. Freeman DE, Hammock P, Baker GJ. Short- and long-term survival and prevalence of postoperative ileus after small intestinal surgery in the horse.. Equine Vet J 2000;32:42–51.
    pubmed: 11202382
  26. Proudman CJ, Smith JE, Edwards GB, French NP. Long-term survival of equine surgical colic cases. Part 2: Modelling postoperative survival.. Equine Vet J 2002b;34:438–443.
    pubmed: 12358044
Subscribe to our newsletter
Join 99,359 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.