Effects of hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose membranes on the clinical outcome of horses undergoing emergency exploratory celiotomy.

The research studied the impact of hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose (HA-CMC) membranes on horses undergoing emergency exploratory celiotomy. The findings did not show significant influence on postoperation complications or survival rates between horses who received HA-CMC and those who did not.

Study Objectives and Methodology

• This study focused on the effects of hyaluronate-carboxymethylcellulose (HA-CMC) membranes when applied to the intestinal areas where surgical procedures were performed on horses, during emergency exploratory celiotomy.
• A multicenter retrospective case-controlled series method was used to carry out this research.
• Four referral hospitals provided medical records of adult horses above 1 year of age, treated between 2008 and 2014 with emergency exploratory celiotomy, and who survived more than 24 hours post-operatively.
• The study excluded horses undergoing repeated celiotomy during the same hospitalization.
• The study ensured that horses who received HA-CMC were compared with those who did not, albeit ensuring that the latter had similar intestinal issues and underwent similar procedures.

Comparison Parameters and Findings

• The parameters for comparison between two groups were postoperative complications, duration of hospitalization, and survival rate.
• It found that the volume of nasogastric reflux during hospital admission and the time for which lidocaine was administered post-operation were greater in horses on HA-CMC membranes than those in the control group.
• However, no differences were detected between the two groups in terms of postoperative complications or survival rate. For instance, 81% of horses who underwent HA-CMC treatment survived until hospital discharge compared to 88% survival rate in the control group.

Conclusions

• The findings suggested that the use of HA-CMC membranes did not significantly impact the postoperative complications and survival after emergency celiotomy.
• The safety and efficacy of applying HA-CMC membranes to intestinal incision sites during horse colic surgery remain undetermined based on this research.