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Home / Equine Research Bank / Acta Vet Scand / Long-term follow-up on recovery, return to use and sporting ...
Acta veterinaria Scandinavica2017; 59(1); 5; doi: 10.1186/s13028-016-0273-9

Long-term follow-up on recovery, return to use and sporting activity: a retrospective study of 236 operated colic horses in Finland (2006-2012).

Abstract: Surgical treatment of colic is expensive and complications may occur. Information on the prognosis and the use of the horse after surgery for colic is important for surgeons and owners. Current literature on return to athletic function after celiotomy is limited. The present study reviewed surgical cases of the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Helsinki, Finland for 2006-2012. The aim was to follow the population of horses of different breeds for surgical findings, postsurgical complications, long-term recovery and prognosis. The findings and their influence on survival, return to previous or intended use and performance were assessed. Results: Most of the operated horses (82.6%; 195/236) recovered from anesthesia and 74.9% (146/195) were discharged. The total follow-up time was 8 years and 10 months and the median survival time 79.2 months. Age of the horse, location of the abdominal lesion (small vs. large intestine), incidence of postoperative colic, surgical site infection, incisional hernia or convalescence time after surgery, did not significantly affect the probability of performing in the previous or intended discipline after the surgery. A majority of the discharged horses (83.7%) was able to perform in the previous or intended discipline and 78.5% regained their former or higher level of performance. Operated horses had 0.18 colic episodes per horse-year during the long-term follow-up. The incidence of colic was 20.0% within the first year after surgery. Horses operated for large intestinal colic were 3.3-fold more prone to suffer postoperative colic than horses operated for small intestinal colic. The majority of the owners (96.3%) were satisfied with the veterinary care and nearly all (98.5%) evaluated the recovery after the colic surgery to be satisfactory or above. Conclusions: If the horse survives to discharge, prognosis for long-term survival and return to previous level of sporting activity and performance was good after colic surgery in a population of horses of different breeds. None of the factors studied were found to decrease the probability of performing in the same or intended discipline after surgery. The majority of horses were able to return to their previous activity and perform satisfactorily for several years after surgery.
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Publication Date: 2017-01-05 PubMed ID: 28057022PubMed Central: PMC5216577DOI: 10.1186/s13028-016-0273-9Google Scholar: Lookup
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Summary

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This study investigates the long-term recovery and functionality of horses that underwent surgery for colic in Finland between 2006 and 2012. The researchers found that a majority of the horses were able to return to their former or intended activity and perform satisfactorily for several years, showing favorable post-op prognosis.

Objective and Methodology of the Study

  • The study aimed to evaluate the long-term recovery, return to use, and acitivity level of horses that underwent surgical treatment for colic, a common digestive disorder in horses. The findings provide crucial information on post-surgical prognosis, which is vital for veterinary surgeons and horse owners.
  • <The study utilized surgical case data from the Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Helsinki, Finland, spanning the years from 2006-2012. The sample population comprised different breeds of horses.

Key Findings

  • The researchers found that most horses (82.6%) recovered from anesthesia and 74.9% of these recovered horses were discharged. Total follow-up time extended to 8 years and 10 months with a median survival time of 79.2 months.
  • Factors such as the horse’s age, location of the intestinal lesion, postoperative complications, and convalescence time post-surgery did not significantly affect the horse’s ability to perform in their previous or intended discipline.
  • A significant majority (83.7%) of the discharged horses were able to resume their previous tasks or perform in their intended roles. Furthermore, 78.5% attained their former or a higher level of performance.

Conclusions and Implications

  • The study found that horses that survive to discharge usually have a good prognosis for long-term survival and return to their previous level of activity.
  • None of the factors analyzed decreased the likelihood of a horse to carry on performing the same or intended tasks post-surgery.
  • Horses that underwent surgery for colic were found to have few recurrences of the condition, with a colic incidence rate of 20% within the first year after surgery.
  • Perceived owner satisfaction with the veterinary care received was high, with a majority of the owners expressing satisfaction with their horse’s recovery post-surgery.

This study offers positive evidence supporting the effectiveness of surgical intervention for colic in horses, highlighting a good prognosis for long-term survival and return to functionality.

Cite This Article

APA
Immonen IA, Karikoski N, Mykkänen A, Niemelä T, Junnila J, Tulamo RM. (2017). 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, 59(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-016-0273-9

Publication

Acta veterinaria Scandinavica
ISSN: 1751-0147
NlmUniqueID: 0370400
Country: England
Language: English
Volume: 59
Issue: 1
Pages: 5
PII: 5

Researcher Affiliations

Immonen, Isa Anna Maria
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland. isa.immonen@fimnet.fi.
Karikoski, Ninja
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
Mykkänen, Anna
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
Niemelä, Tytti
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.
Junnila, Jouni
  • 4 Pharma, 20520, Turku, Finland.
Tulamo, Riitta-Mari
  • Department of Equine and Small Animal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Helsinki, 00014, Helsinki, Finland.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Breeding
  • Colic / surgery
  • Colic / veterinary
  • Finland
  • Horse Diseases / pathology
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horses
  • Kaplan-Meier Estimate
  • Laparotomy / veterinary
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Prognosis
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Sports
  • Treatment Outcome

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Citations

This article has been cited 5 times.
  1. Veerasammy B, Gonzalez G, Báez-Ramos P, Schaaf CR, Stewart AS, Ludwig EK, McKinney-Aguirre C, Freund J, Robertson J, Gonzalez LM. Changes in equine intestinal stem/progenitor cell number at resection margins in cases of small intestinal strangulation.. Equine Vet J 2023 Jan 30;.
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  2. Iglesias-García M, Rodríguez Hurtado I, Ortiz-Díez G, De la Calle Del Barrio J, Fernández Pérez C, Gómez Lucas R. Predictive Models for Equine Emergency Exploratory Laparotomy in Spain: Pre-, Intra-, and Post-Operative-Mortality-Associated Factors.. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 27;12(11).
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  3. Dybkjær E, Steffensen KF, Honoré ML, Dinesen MA, Christophersen MT, Pihl TH. Short-term survival rates of 1397 horses referred for colic from 2010 to 2018.. Acta Vet Scand 2022 May 7;64(1):11.
    doi: 10.1186/s13028-022-00631-4pubmed: 35526044google scholar: lookup
  4. Kaufman JM, Nekouei O, Doyle AJ, Biermann NM. Clinical findings, diagnoses, and outcomes of horses presented for colic to a referral hospital in Atlantic Canada (2000-2015).. Can Vet J 2020 Mar;61(3):281-288.
    pubmed: 32165752
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