FREE SHIPPING over $40
OVER 9000 FIVE-STAR REVIEWS
5% OFF ALL SUBSCRIPTIONS
100% HAPPINESS GUARANTEE
Analyze Diet
0
Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Incisional complications following exploratory celiotomy: do...
Equine veterinary journal2007; 39(3); 277-283; doi: 10.2746/042516407x193963

Incisional complications following exploratory celiotomy: does an abdominal bandage reduce the risk?

Abstract: Post operative complications following exploratory laparotomy can be potentially life-threatening, increase post operative morbidity and result in an increase in the length of hospitalisation of the affected individual. No study has evaluated the efficacy of specific strategies to reduce the incidence of post operative incisional complications. Objective: The use of an abdominal bandage following colic surgery through a celiotomy incision would significantly reduce the prevalence of post operative incisional complications. Methods: A controlled, randomised clinical trial to test the hypothesis was devised. Horses eligible for inclusion in the study were assigned randomly either to the study or control group following recovery from general anaesthesia. Any post operative incisional complications occurring during hospitalisation were recorded. Long-term follow-up was obtained via telephone questionnaires. Absolute risk reduction (ARR) and number needed to treat (NNT) were calculated. Multivariable analyses were conducted for all outcomes of interest. Results: There was an ARR of the likelihood of developing a post operative incisional complication of 45% when using compared to not using an abdominal bandage in the post operative period. Therefore, it would be necessary to treat 2.2 horses with an abdominal bandage in order to prevent one horse developing any post operative incisional complications. Conclusions: Although incisional complications continue to be a problem following an exploratory celiotomy for colic, the proportion of horses affected was significantly reduced by use of a bandage. Conclusions: Using an abdominal bandage following an exploratory laparotomy may help reduce the prevalence of post operative incisional complications, and prevent the development of potentially life-threatening complications.
Get Full Text
Publication Date: 2007-05-25 PubMed ID: 17520982DOI: 10.2746/042516407x193963Google 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.
LinkedInCopy
  • Journal Article
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

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.

The study investigates whether the use of an abdominal bandage can reduce post-operative complications, particularly incisional complications, following exploratory celiotomy for colic in horses. The research shows a significant reduction in these complications when a bandage is used, suggesting that it could be an effective strategy.

Objective and Methods

  • The research was driven by the need to address post-operative complications, especially incisional ones, in horses, which could be life-threatening, increase post-operative morbidity, and extend hospital stay.
  • It specifically aimed to see if the use of an abdominal bandage after colic surgery through a celiotomy incision could significantly lower the occurrence of these complications. No prior research had examined this approach.
  • To test this, a controlled randomized clinical trial was undertaken. Horses eligible for inclusion were randomly assigned to either a study group where a bandage was used, or a control group without a bandage, after recovery from general anesthesia.
  • All post-operative incisional complications during the hospital stay were noted, with long-term follow-up done through phone questionnaires. Further, Absolute Risk Reduction (ARR) and Number Needed to Treat (NNT) metrics were calculated, and multivariate analyses were performed on all outcomes of interest.

Results

  • The results showed a considerably high ARR – a 45% lower likelihood of developing a post-operative incisional complication from using an abdominal bandage.
  • The NNT, an indicator of the effectiveness of a health intervention, suggested that roughly 2.2 horses would need to be treated with a bandage to prevent one such complication.

Conclusions

  • Despite incisional complications still being a recurring issue after exploratory celiotomy for colic, the use of an abdominal bandage noticeably diminished the proportion of affected horses.
  • The takeaway from this research is that using an abdominal bandage after such a surgery may cut down the frequency of post-operative incisional complications, helping to prevent the onset of potentially life-threatening situations.

Cite This Article

APA
Smith LJ, Mellor DJ, Marr CM, Reid SW, Mair TS. (2007). Incisional complications following exploratory celiotomy: does an abdominal bandage reduce the risk? Equine Vet J, 39(3), 277-283. https://doi.org/10.2746/042516407x193963

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 0425-1644
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 39
Issue: 3
Pages: 277-283

Researcher Affiliations

Smith, L J
  • Institute of Comparative Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Glasgow, Bearsden Road, Glasgow G61 1QH.
Mellor, D J
    Marr, C M
      Reid, S W J
        Mair, T S

          MeSH Terms

          • Animals
          • Bandages / veterinary
          • Colic / mortality
          • Colic / surgery
          • Colic / veterinary
          • Female
          • Horse Diseases / mortality
          • Horse Diseases / surgery
          • Horses
          • Laparotomy / adverse effects
          • Laparotomy / methods
          • Laparotomy / veterinary
          • Male
          • Multivariate Analysis
          • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
          • Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
          • Postoperative Complications / veterinary
          • Risk Factors
          • Time Factors
          • Treatment Outcome

          Citations

          This article has been cited 14 times.
          1. McCorkell TC, Espinosa Seoane D, Zani-Ruttenstock E, Doktor F, Figueira R, Sinclair M, Zur Linden A, Horna M, Recchi L, Defarges A, Antounians L, Bütter A, Zani A, Koenig J. Veterinary and technical optimization of the fetal sheep model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia: implications for translational pediatric surgery. Front Surg 2025;12:1711870.
            doi: 10.3389/fsurg.2025.1711870pubmed: 41415534google scholar: lookup
          2. Baldwin CM, Gillen A. An ex vivo comparison of jejunal transection angles and the effect on lumen diameter following end-to-end jejunojejunal anastomoses. Vet Surg 2026 Feb;55(2):484-490.
            doi: 10.1111/vsu.14294pubmed: 40525474google scholar: lookup
          3. de la Rebière de Pouyade G, Binard M, Deleuze S, Ponthier J. Survey on outcomes of emergency standing caesarean section in equids. Front Vet Sci 2025;12:1548978.
            doi: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1548978pubmed: 40343373google scholar: lookup
          4. Cerullo A, Di Nicola MR, Scilimati N, Bertoletti A, Pollicino G, Moroni B, Pepe M, Nannarone S, Gialletti R, Passamonti F. Intra- and Post-Operative Bacteriological Surveys of Surgical Site in Horses: A Single-Centre Study. Microorganisms 2025 Apr 17;13(4).
            doi: 10.3390/microorganisms13040928pubmed: 40284764google scholar: lookup
          5. Griessel TS, Muñoz Morán JA, Byaruhanga C, Smit Y. A single-centre retrospective study of surgical site infection following equine colic surgery (2013‒2021). Vet Rec 2025 May 17;196(10):e5227.
            doi: 10.1002/vetr.5227pubmed: 40123113google scholar: lookup
          6. Isgren CM, Pinchbeck GL, Salem SE, Hann MJ, Townsend NB, Cullen MD, Archer DC. Evaluation of a stent dressing and abdominal bandage on surgical site infection following emergency equine laparotomy: A randomised controlled trial. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1466-1477.
            doi: 10.1111/evj.14482pubmed: 39967458google scholar: lookup
          7. 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).
            doi: 10.3390/ani13223573pubmed: 38003189google scholar: lookup
          8. Rockow M, Griffenhagen G, Landolt G, Hendrickson D, Pezzanite L. Current Antimicrobial Use in Horses Undergoing Exploratory Celiotomy: A Survey of Board-Certified Equine Specialists. Animals (Basel) 2023 Apr 22;13(9).
            doi: 10.3390/ani13091433pubmed: 37174470google scholar: lookup
          9. Gozalo-Marcilla M, Ringer SK. Recovery after General Anaesthesia in Adult Horses: A Structured Summary of the Literature. Animals (Basel) 2021 Jun 14;11(6).
            doi: 10.3390/ani11061777pubmed: 34198637google scholar: lookup
          10. Stöckle SD, Kannapin DA, Kauter AML, Lübke-Becker A, Walther B, Merle R, Gehlen H. A Pilot Randomised Clinical Trial Comparing a Short-Term Perioperative Prophylaxis Regimen to a Long-Term Standard Protocol in Equine Colic Surgery. Antibiotics (Basel) 2021 May 16;10(5).
            doi: 10.3390/antibiotics10050587pubmed: 34065712google scholar: lookup
          11. Crosa AT, Katzman SA, Kelleher ME, Nieto JE, Kilcoyne I, Dechant JE. Incidence of incisional complications after exploratory celiotomy in equids affected with enterolithiasis. Can Vet J 2020 Oct;61(10):1085-1091.
            pubmed: 33012825
          12. Scharner D, Gittel C, Winter K, Blaue D, Schedlbauer C, Vervuert I, Brehm W. Comparison of incisional complications between skin closures using a simple continuous or intradermal pattern: a pilot study in horses undergoing ventral median celiotomy. PeerJ 2018;6:e5772.
            doi: 10.7717/peerj.5772pubmed: 30430040google scholar: lookup
          13. Isgren CM, Salem SE, Townsend NB, Timofte D, Maddox TW, Archer DC. Sequential bacterial sampling of the midline incision in horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy. Equine Vet J 2019 Jan;51(1):38-44.
            doi: 10.1111/evj.12958pubmed: 29679416google scholar: lookup
          14. Immonen IA, Karikoski N, Mykkänen A, Niemelä T, Junnila J, Tulamo RM. Long-term follow-up on recovery, return to use and sporting activity: a retrospective study of 236 operated colic horses in Finland (2006-2012). Acta Vet Scand 2017 Jan 5;59(1):5.
            doi: 10.1186/s13028-016-0273-9pubmed: 28057022google scholar: lookup
          Subscribe to our newsletter
          Join 99,383 horse owners like you who receive our email updates on horse health and nutrition.