Gastric rupture in horses: a review of 54 cases.
Abstract: The historical, clinical, laboratory, surgical and necropsy findings in 54 cases of gastric rupture in horses are described. Eleven per cent of the deaths of horses undergoing exploratory coeliotomy for colic during the period of the study were a result of gastric rupture. Comparison with all horses which had exploratory coeliotomies for colic over an eight year period did not show that horses with gastric rupture were different from these reference horses regarding age, breed or season. There were fewer stallions than expected in the gastric rupture group. Horses with histories of both acute and chronic (more than 36 h) colic were susceptible to gastric rupture. Primary and idiopathic causes of gastric dilation and rupture accounted for about one-third of the horses. All but one of these cases resulting from secondary causes fell into three aetiologically-related groups: obstructive, peritoneal and enteric, with approximately equal numbers of horses in each group. Most of the ruptures occurred along the greater curvature of the stomach. At least six horses ruptured their stomachs postoperatively in the presence of an indwelling nasogastric tube. The presence or absence of gastric reflux following nasogastric intubation was not a reliable indicator, on its own, of gastric dilation. Horses that later died from gastric rupture had markedly elevated heart rate, hypochloraemia, peritoneal exudative effusion (particularly with evidence of sepsis), pre- and/or postoperative gastric reflux and small or large intestinal disease. However, no distinctive feature of these horses was shown to place them at risk of gastric rupture.
Publication Date: 1986-07-01 PubMed ID: 3758007DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1986.tb03631.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research paper explores an investigation into 54 cases of gastric rupture in horses, providing an analysis of the historical, clinical, laboratory, surgical and necropsy findings. There appeared to be no specific indicators such as age, breed, or season that predispose horses to gastric rupture. However, both acute and chronic colic histories were linked to susceptibility to gastric rupture.
Historical, Clinical and Laboratory Findings
- The study found that there were 54 documented cases of gastric rupture in horses. The horses’ history, clinical signs, and laboratory results were all carefully analyzed. This included information about their breed, age, and any potential signs or symptoms they may have presented with.
- A noteworthy finding was that 11% of horse deaths under exploratory surgery for colic during the study period were as a result of gastric rupture.
- On comparing this study group to a reference group undergoing exploratory surgeries for colic over an eight-year period, it was established that factors like age, breed, or season weren’t significant contributors to the risk of gastric rupture.
Observed Trends and Findings
- It was observed that there tended to be fewer stallions in the group that experienced gastric rupture.
- Horses that had a history of either acute (sudden onset) or chronic (lasting more than 36 hours) colic were found to be more susceptible to gastric rupture.
- Primary and idiopathic (of unknown origin) causes of gastric dilation (swelling) and rupture were found in approximately one-third of the horses.
- Most of the ruptures occurred on the greater curvature of the horse’s stomach.
Postoperative Observations and Conclusions
- After the operations, it was observed that at least six horses experienced gastric rupture despite having a nasogastric tube in place. This underlines that the presence or absence of gastric reflux following nasogastric intubation is not a reliable indicator of gastric dilation on its own.
- Horses that eventually died from gastric rupture had significantly elevated heart rates, low chlorine levels in their blood (hypochloraemia), abnormal fluid build-up in their peritoneum (peritoneal exudative effusion) particularly with evidence of sepsis (increased infection), a history of pre- and/or postoperative gastric reflux, and small or large intestinal disease.
- However, in spite of these findings, no unique characteristic or feature was found to place specific horses at a higher risk of gastric rupture.
Cite This Article
APA
Todhunter RJ, Erb HN, Roth L.
(1986).
Gastric rupture in horses: a review of 54 cases.
Equine Vet J, 18(4), 288-293.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.1986.tb03631.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Female
- Horse Diseases / diagnosis
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Male
- Rupture, Spontaneous
- Sex Factors
- Stomach Rupture / etiology
- Stomach Rupture / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 4 times.- Epstein KL, Hall MD. Effect of Nasogastric Tube Placement, Manipulation, and Fluid Administration on Transcutaneous Ultrasound Visualization and Assessment of Stomach Position in Healthy Unfed and Fed Horses. Animals (Basel) 2022 Dec 6;12(23).
- Asin J, Nyaoke AC, Samol MA, Arthur RM, Uzal FA. Clostridioides (Clostridium) difficile-associated disease, epiploic foramen entrapment, and gastric rupture in a Thoroughbred racehorse: case report and literature review. J Vet Diagn Invest 2022 Sep;34(5):913-917.
- Bergstrom TC, Sakai RR, Nieto JE. Catastrophic gastric rupture in a horse secondary to psyllium pharmacobezoars. Can Vet J 2018 Mar;59(3):249-253.
- Winfield LS, Dechant JE. Primary gastric rupture in 47 horses (1995-2011). Can Vet J 2015 Sep;56(9):953-8.
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