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Evaluation of risk factors associated with development of postoperative ileus in horses.
Abstract: To determine factors associated with development of postoperative ileus (POI) in horses undergoing surgery for colic. Methods: Prospective case-control study. Methods: 251 horses undergoing colic surgery, of which 47 developed POI. Methods: Signalment, history, clinicopathologic data, pre- and postoperative treatments, lesions, complications, costs, and outcome were recorded for all horses during hospitalization. Results: Variables associated with increased odds of POI included small intestinal lesion, high PCV, and increased duration of anesthesia. There was modest evidence that pelvic flexure enterotomy and intraoperative administration of lidocaine may have reduced the odds of developing POI. Conclusions: Findings during the preoperative and intraoperative periods can be used to identify horses at increased risk of POI. Reducing surgical and anesthetic duration should decrease the incidence of POI.
Publication Date: 2004-11-02 PubMed ID: 15515986DOI: 10.2460/javma.2004.225.1070Google 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.
- Evaluation Study
- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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The research article assesses the factors that increase the risk of postoperative ileus (POI) in horses that have undergone surgery for colic. A significant conclusion is that specific observations during the preoperative and intraoperative periods can be used to identify horses at greater risk, informing potential steps to minimize the incidence of POI.
Study Design and Participants
- This was a prospective case-control study that included 251 horses that had undergone surgery for colic. Out of these, 47 horses developed postoperative ileus (POI).
Data Collection
- For all the horses, data was collected on signalment, history, clinicopathologic data, pre-and postoperative treatments, lesions, complications, costs, and outcome throughout their hospital stay.
Results
- The study found that factors associated with higher odds of developing POI included the presence of a small intestinal lesion, high pack cell volume (PCV), and extended duration of anesthesia.
- There was some evidence that procedures such as pelvic flexure enterotomy and administration of lidocaine during surgery may have lowered the risk of developing POI. However, this evidence was only moderate.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- The study concluded that observations made during the preoperative and intraoperative periods could be useful in determining which horses are at a higher risk of developing POI. This, in turn, can guide clinicians in developing strategies to minimize the incidence of POI.
- It is recommended to reduce the duration of surgery and anesthesia in order to decrease the likelihood of POI.
Cite This Article
APA
Cohen ND, Lester GD, Sanchez LC, Merritt AM, Roussel AJ.
(2004).
Evaluation of risk factors associated with development of postoperative ileus in horses.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 225(7), 1070-1078.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2004.225.1070 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Large Animal Medicine & Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-4475, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Anesthesia / adverse effects
- Anesthesia / veterinary
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Colic / surgery
- Colic / veterinary
- Female
- Hematocrit / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Intestinal Obstruction / epidemiology
- Intestinal Obstruction / etiology
- Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
- Intestine, Small / pathology
- Male
- Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
- Postoperative Complications / etiology
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Prospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Texas / epidemiology
- Time Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 15 times.- Patton ME, Andrews FM, Bogers SH, Wong D, McKenzie HC 3rd, Werre SR, Byron CR. Effects of Bit Chewing on Gastric Emptying, Small Intestinal Transit, and Orocecal Transit Times in Clinically Normal Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 4;13(15).
- Ruff J, Zetterstrom S, Boone L, Hofmeister E, Smith C, Epstein K, Blikslager A, Fogle C, Burke M. Retrospective analysis of postoperative complications following surgical treatment of ileal impaction in horses managed with manual decompression compared to jejunal enterotomy. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1156678.
- Verhaar N, Hoppe S, Grages AM, Hansen K, Neudeck S, Kästner S, Mazzuoli-Weber G. Dexmedetomidine Has Differential Effects on the Contractility of Equine Jejunal Smooth Muscle Layers In Vitro. Animals (Basel) 2023 Mar 10;13(6).
- Kos VK, Kramaric P, Brloznik M. Packed cell volume and heart rate to predict medical and surgical cases and their short-term survival in horses with gastrointestinal-induced colic. Can Vet J 2022 Apr;63(4):365-372.
- Yau K, Halleran J, Boileau M, Foster D. Retrospective study on the use of lidocaine constant rate infusions for the treatment of ileus in ruminants and camelids. J Vet Intern Med 2021 Nov;35(6):2933-2936.
- Lawson AL, Sherlock CE, Ireland JL, Mair TS. Equine nutrition in the post-operative colic: Survey of Diplomates of the American Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Veterinary Surgeons, and European Colleges of Equine Internal Medicine and Veterinary Surgeons. Equine Vet J 2021 Sep;53(5):1015-1024.
- Cuevas-Ramos G, Domenech L, Prades M. Small Intestine Ultrasound Findings on Horses Following Exploratory Laparotomy, Can We Predict Postoperative Reflux?. Animals (Basel) 2019 Dec 9;9(12).
- Salem SE, Proudman CJ, Archer DC. Has intravenous lidocaine improved the outcome in horses following surgical management of small intestinal lesions in a UK hospital population?. BMC Vet Res 2016 Jul 27;12(1):157.
- McConachie E, Giguère S, Barton MH. Scoring System for Multiple Organ Dysfunction in Adult Horses with Acute Surgical Gastrointestinal Disease. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jul;30(4):1276-83.
- Fleming K, Mueller PO. Ileal impaction in 245 horses: 1995-2007. Can Vet J 2011 Jul;52(7):759-63.
- Okamura K, Sasaki N, Kikuchi T, Murata A, Lee I, Yamada H, Inokuma H. Effects of mosapride on motility of the small intestine and caecum in normal horses after jejunocaecostomy. J Vet Sci 2009 Jun;10(2):157-60.
- Prause AS, Stoffel MH, Portier CJ, Mevissen M. Expression and function of 5-HT7 receptors in smooth muscle preparations from equine duodenum, ileum, and pelvic flexure. Res Vet Sci 2009 Oct;87(2):292-9.
- Maldonado Moreno N, Alves Moreira J, Araujo De Oliveira L, Sanches Gontijo A, Castilho Baldi ML, Rocha Wenceslau R, Beier SL. Analgesic and Gastrointestinal Effects of Methadone in Horses Undergoing Orchiectomy. Animals (Basel) 2025 Aug 11;15(16).
- Straticò P, Guerri G, Bandera L, Celani G, Di Nunzio L, Petrizzi L, Varasano V. Comparison of Xylazine and Lidocaine Infusion versus Medetomidine Continuous Rate Infusion during General Anesthesia with Isoflurane in Horses Undergoing Emergency Laparotomy. Vet Sci 2024 Apr 29;11(5).
- Rockow M, Griffenhagen G, Landolt G, Hendrickson D, Pezzanite L. The Effects of Antimicrobial Protocols and Other Perioperative Factors on Postoperative Complications in Horses Undergoing Celiotomy: A Retrospective Analysis, 2008-2021. Animals (Basel) 2023 Nov 19;13(22).
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