Indications, complications, and outcome of horses undergoing repeated celiotomy within 14 days after the first colic surgery: 95 cases (2005-2013).

The research studied factors affecting the prognosis for horses undergoing two abdominal surgeries within 14 days, investigating the impact on both short-term (survival to hospital discharge) and long-term survival (beyond 3 and 6 months). The findings suggest a guarded prognosis, with a negative impact on long-term survival if intestinal resection is necessary.

Research Methodology

• The study was a retrospective case series analysis conducted on 95 horses, which had undergone two abdominal surgeries (celiotomy) within a 14-day period between 2005 and 2013 at three equine referral hospitals.
• Various historical, clinical and laboratory data were considered and compared between horses that survived and those which did not, for both the short-term (up to hospital discharge) and long-term (beyond 3 and 6 months) period.

Key Findings

• The most common finding during the first surgery was strangulating small intestinal lesions, present in 63.2% of the cases. The most common reason prompting the second surgery was persistent gastric reflux, in 58.9% of cases.
• The reasons for the second surgery did not have a direct link with the survival rate of the horses.
• Out of 92 horses tracked for long term follow-up, 23.9% survived beyond 6 months after hospital discharge. Only two of 13 horses that had intestinal resections during both surgeries survived to more than 6 months after hospital discharge.
• Compared to horses that did not require intestinal resection, significantly fewer that needed resection during one or both surgeries survived to hospital discharge and beyond 3 and 6 months post-discharge.
• In terms of complications, 68.4% of horses that survived to hospital discharge experienced incisional infections, and 31.6% developed incisional hernias or dehiscence (separation of parts where surgical incision was made).

Conclusions

• The study found that the outlook for horses undergoing repeated celiotomy is generally uncertain.
• Importantly, it was demonstrated that if intestinal resection was required during one or both surgeries, it negatively influenced the long-term survival rate of the horses.
• This raises the necessity for veterinary surgeons to consider these significant survival and recovery odds when deciding a surgical course of action for equine patients suffering from gastrointestinal ailments.