Fifty years of colic surgery.

The research discusses the evolution of colic surgery over the past half-century, the role of different stakeholders in achieving successful outcomes, the observed rise in complication rates, and the areas that need improvement for increased survival and quality of life for equine patients.

Evolution of Colic Surgery

• The article begins with a brief review of colic surgery’s progression and elaborates on the critical role of different stakeholders in ensuring positive outcomes. Over the last 50 years, colic surgery has undergone significant improvements, even though ranking these advancements might not always meet with universal agreement.

Role of Stakeholders

• In the process of colic surgery, the role of a collaborative team is emphasized. This team includes the referring veterinarian and the horse owner, who are responsible for promptly transferring the horse to the surgical unit and later overseeing aftercare.
• The surgeon plays a critical role in determining the need for surgery and collaborating with the anesthesiologist to ensure the patient can safely undergo the entire surgical procedure.

Increased Complication Rates

• Notwithstanding the advancements, the article then focuses on a concerning trend: the rise in post-operative complication rates in recent years. Despite more precise definitions and statistical analyses available now, it seems that complication rates are increasing over time.
• This puts into question the perceived improvements in surgical and anaesthetic methods.

Concerns and Future Direction

• The rise in complications subsequently exacerbates issues like high costs, excessive reliance on post-operative medicinal management, increased apprehension, high rates of euthanasia during operations, and potentially reduced long-term survival rates for horses.
• The article concludes by suggesting that future strategies should aim at addressing these concerns. This can be done through immediate referrals, applying good surgical techniques, and reducing the cost of colic surgeries to a more affordable level, consequently saving more lives.