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Animals : an open access journal from MDPI2023; 13(17); 2715; doi: 10.3390/ani13172715

Histological Evaluation of Resected Tissue as a Predictor of Survival in Horses with Strangulating Small Intestinal Disease.

Abstract: Strangulating small intestinal disease (SSID) in horses carries a poor prognosis for survival, especially following resection of ischaemic tissue. The margins of a resection are principally based on visual appraisal of the intestine during surgery. We hypothesized that histological evaluation of resected tissue may identify occult changes indicative of prognosis. Small intestinal samples from 18 horses undergoing resection for SSID and 9 horses euthanised for reasons unrelated to gastrointestinal pathology were utilised. Histological appearance was used to generate a 'total damage score' (TDS) for the control tissue, grossly normal tissue at oral and aboral extremities (sections OR1 and AB1) of the resected intestine, and oral and aboral extremities of visually abnormal tissue (sections OR2 and AB2) from SSID horses. The relationship between TDS and long-term post-operative survival was investigated. TDS was not different between control tissues and OR1 and AB1 sections. Five surgical cases were alive at follow-up, the longest follow-up time being 2561 days. Based on the median scores for SSID cases versus controls, cut-off values were generated to evaluate post-operative survival versus TDS. Only OR2 TDS was significantly associated with survival, with a higher (worse) score indicating longer survival. More severe tissue insult may expedite rapid progression to surgery, improving post-operative outcomes.
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Publication Date: 2023-08-26 PubMed ID: 37684979PubMed Central: PMC10486948DOI: 10.3390/ani13172715Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

This research looks into how the analysis of surgically removed tissue can forecast survival outcomes for horses struggling with strangulating small intestinal disease (SSID). It hints that higher damage scores at the extremities of the visually abnormal portion of the intestines are linked with longer survival following surgery.

Strangulating Small Intestinal Disease and Its Impact

  • The study aims to investigate Strangulating Small Intestinal Disease (SSID), a condition in horses that often carries a grim prognosis. The disease often requires surgical resection of the affected intestinal tissue.
  • The decision about where to cut during a resection is mostly based on visual inspection of the intestine during the surgery. There has been little investigation into whether the histological or microscopic evaluation of resected tissue could reveal indicators that predict prognosis.

Research Methodology and Findings

  • For this study, the investigators collected samples from 18 horses that had undergone resection for SSID, and from 9 other horses that were euthanised for reasons unrelated to gastrointestinal pathology. These latter samples served as the control group.
  • These samples underwent histological analysis and were assigned ‘total damage scores’ (TDS). The scores were assigned to these specimens – the control tissue, the normal tissue at the opposite ends of the resected part of the intestine, and the opposite ends of visually abnormal tissue from horses with SSID.
  • An examination of the TDS scores and post-operative survival discovered a significant correlation. Notably, TDS was not different between controls and the normal tissues next to the resected portions. However, the TDS of the visually abnormal intestinal section related to survival – the higher the damage score, the longer the survival, contrary to the initial hypothesis.

Conclusions and Implications

  • Ultimately, the study suggested that horses with severe tissue damage (resulting in higher TDS) might have faster disease progression, leading them to surgery sooner. It seems this expedited progression offers a greater chance of improved post-operative results and increased long-term survival.
  • This research helps in redefining the prognosis of SSID in horses and offers a new perspective on how histological evaluations could guide surgical decisions and the planned course of treatment.

Cite This Article

APA
Bardell D, Rocchigiani G, Ressel L, Milner P. (2023). Histological Evaluation of Resected Tissue as a Predictor of Survival in Horses with Strangulating Small Intestinal Disease. Animals (Basel), 13(17), 2715. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani13172715

Publication

Animals : an open access journal from MDPI
ISSN: 2076-2615
NlmUniqueID: 101635614
Country: Switzerland
Language: English
Volume: 13
Issue: 17
PII: 2715

Researcher Affiliations

Bardell, David
  • Department of Equine Clinical Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK.
Rocchigiani, Guido
  • Department of Veterinary Anatomy Physiology and Pathology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK.
Ressel, Lorenzo
  • Department of Veterinary Anatomy Physiology and Pathology, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK.
Milner, Peter
  • Department of Equine Clinical Sciences, Institute of Infection, Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst Campus, Chester High Road, Neston CH64 7TE, UK.

Grant Funding

  • VET002VSRP / University of Liverpool Veterinary Research Projects Support Fund

Conflict of Interest Statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

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