Outcome of medical and surgical treatment of cecal impaction in horses: 114 cases (1994-2004).

The research article is about the investigation of short and long-term results, including recurrence rates, of horses with cecal impaction who underwent either medical or surgical treatment.

Objective and Methodology

• The paper aims to determine the outcomes, both short and long-term, and the recurrence rates for horses with cecal impaction treated either medically or surgically.
• The research was conducted retrospectively by reviewing medical records of 114 horses for details about their health status, history, clinical findings, treatment method (either medicinal or surgical), and the initial outcome after treatment.
• Apart from reviewing medical records, the study also collected long-term outcome data through a mail survey and phone interviews conducted with the horse owners.

Results

• Out of 114 horses, 54 were treated medically, 49 surgically, and 11 were euthanized after initial examination without further treatment.
• Horses who underwent surgical treatment were more likely to exhibit signs of moderate or severe pain compared to those treated medically.
• Most horses (81%) treated medically were discharged from the hospital, while some others (12 out of 49) treated surgically were euthanized due to cecal rupture during surgery. However, a vast majority of horses that survived the surgery (95%) were discharged from the hospital.
• In terms of surgical procedures, typhlotomy without a bypass procedure was performed on 34 out of 49 horses.
• Long-term follow-up information was available for 19 horses treated medically and 28 horses treated surgically. Interestingly, the survival rates of both groups were high, with 95% of medically treated horses and 89% of surgically treated horses alive at least 1 year post-treatment.

Conclusion

• Based on these findings, the study concludes that both medical and surgical treatments are associated with favorable outcomes in horses with cecal impactions.
• Performing typhlotomy alone without a cecal bypass procedure was linked to a lower incidence rate of recurrence.
• The long-term prognosis for horses that were discharged from the hospital was generally positive, indicating a promising outcome from the interventions in dealing with cecal impactions in horses.