Good prognosis for survival to hospital discharge in a group of horses with uterine prolapse treated at a veterinary medical teaching hospital.
Abstract: To describe uterine prolapse, predispositions, and outcomes in mares treated between 1988 and 2019. 24 mares with uterine prolapse. Clinical records were retrospectively reviewed, and follow-up information was gathered. The Mann-Whitney U test and Fisher exact test were used to analyze results for history and outcome variables for potential association with mare survival to hospital discharge. The χ2 test was used to compare breed distribution. Age was known in 23 mares (median, 11.1 years). For 15 mares with exact known parity, the median parity was 3 births (range, 1 to 13 births). For 22 mares, the maiden status was known (7 [32%] maiden; 15 [68%] multiparous). Breed distribution differed significantly between mares with uterine prolapse and all mares treated at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital. Arabians were overrepresented in the uterine prolapse group (7/24 [29%]), compared with all mares treated (4,174/44,474 [9%]). Uterine prolapse occurred within 2 hours after parturition for 10 of 11 mares with known foaling times, after dystocia for 7 mares, and after abortion for 4 mares. Seventeen of 23 (74%) mares survived to hospital discharge. Acute hemorrhage was the most frequent cause of death. There were no correlations between mare survival to hospital discharge and mare parity or age, foal sex, retained fetal membranes, sepsis, or maiden status. Colts were overrepresented in foals with a known sex (12/17). Results indicated a breed predisposition to uterine prolapse, with Arabian mares overrepresented among affected mares. No characteristics correlated with mare survival to hospital discharge.
Publication Date: 2022-05-21 PubMed ID: 35333753DOI: 10.2460/javma.20.11.0615Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research article elaborates on the uterine prolapse, its predispositions, and outcomes in mares treated over a period of 31 years (1988-2019). The study suggests that the condition does not correlate with the age or parity of mares, or other factors like foetal sex, sepsis or maiden status; however, a significant predisposition was observed in Arabian mares.
About the Study
- The research was conducted over a span of 31 years, from 1988 to 2019, on 24 mares diagnosed with uterine prolapse.
- Records were examined in retrospect, and follow-up data was collected to outline the predispositions and outcomes of the condition in this sample group.
- Data analysis was performed using statistical tests, such as the Mann-Whitney U test and the Fisher exact test for history and outcome variables, and the χ2 test for breed distribution to identify potential associations with mare survival to hospital discharge.
Main Findings
- Regarding age and parity, the median age was found to be 11.1 years with a known median parity of 3 births.
- Of the 24 mares, 7 were maiden (first-time mothers), while the remaining 15 were multiparous (had given birth more than once).
- The breed distribution varied significantly, and Arabian mares were overrepresented. They formed 29% of the uterine prolapse group, in contrast to their 9% representation in all mares treated at the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital.
- In most cases, uterine prolapse occurred within 2 hours after parturition (childbirth). Other instances included after dystocia (difficult birth) and abortion.
Survival and Outcomes
- 74% of mares (i.e., 17 out of 23) survived until hospital discharge, with acute hemorrhage being the most common cause of death.
- Interestingly, there were no evident correlations between mare survival to hospital discharge and factors such as mare age, parity, sepsis, maiden status or foal sex.
- Among foals with known sex, male foals (colts) were overrepresented (12 out of 17 cases).
Conclusion
- The study concludes that breed predisposition to uterine prolapse exists, with Arabian mares being more susceptible to the condition.
- No definitive characteristics were identified that correlated with mare survival to hospital discharge after uterine prolapse.
Cite This Article
APA
Boye JK, Bulkeley EA, Dujovne GA.
(2022).
Good prognosis for survival to hospital discharge in a group of horses with uterine prolapse treated at a veterinary medical teaching hospital.
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 260(S2), S80-S86.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.20.11.0615 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology, and Cell Biology, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
- Department of Population Health and Reproduction, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Female
- Horse Diseases / etiology
- Horses
- Hospitals, Animal
- Hospitals, Teaching
- Male
- Patient Discharge
- Pregnancy
- Prognosis
- Retrospective Studies
- Uterine Prolapse / complications
- Uterine Prolapse / veterinary
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