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Perioperative factors and outcomes associated with antimicrobial therapy duration in horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy.

Abstract: The objective was to compare perioperative factors that may influence clinician decisions regarding antimicrobial therapy duration and outcomes in horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy. Unassigned: Horses > 1 mo of age undergoing exploratory celiotomy for colic that survived without repeat celiotomy for ≥ 5 d. Unassigned: Retrospective cohort study. Cases were grouped by duration of antimicrobial therapy: G1, ≤ 24 h; G2, 1 to 3 d; G3, > 3 d. Admission, surgical, and postoperative data from the medical records and long-term outcome assessed telephone follow-up were compared among groups. Unassigned: In total, 187 horses (67, 52, and 68 for G1, G2, and G3, respectively) were included. Differences in proportions of horses with strangulating lesions (29.9, 46.2, and 52.9%), undergoing enterotomy (23.9, 61.5, and 52.9%), and treated with resection/anastomosis (11.9, 28.9, and 39.7%) were identified ( = 0.02, < 0.0001, and = 0.001). Overall incisional infection rate in hospital was 12.8%, with no difference among groups (10.4, 13.5, and 14.7%; = 0.80). Differences in proportions of horses with gastrointestinal (29.9, 42.3, and 55.9%; = 0.009) and other inflammatory/infectious (13.4, 33.1, and 36.8%; = 0.007) postoperative complications were identified. There was no difference among groups in survival to discharge (97.0, 96.2, and 89.7%; = 0.20). Horses in G3 had increased duration of hospitalization [11 d (5 to 48 d)] G1 [8 d (5 to 63 d)] ( < 0.0001). Cost of hospitalization was higher for horses in G3 [$9410 ($3790 to $29 240)] than for those in G2 [$7340 ($1860 to $15 260)], which was higher than for those in G1 [$5330 ($3280 to $17 140)] ( 1 mois subissant une coeliotomie exploratoire pour coliques et ayant survécu sans nouvelle coeliotomie pendant ≥ 5 jours. Unassigned: Étude de cohorte rétrospective. Les cas ont été regroupés selon la durée du traitement antimicrobien : G1, ≤ 24 h; G2, 1 à 3 jours; G3, > 3 jours. Les données d’admission, chirurgicales et postopératoires issues des dossiers médicaux, ainsi que les résultats à long terme évalués par suivi téléphonique, ont été comparés entre les groupes. Unassigned: Au total, 187 chevaux (67, 52 et 68 pour G1, G2 et G3, respectivement) ont été inclus. Des différences dans les proportions de chevaux présentant des lésions d’étranglement (29,9, 46,2 et 52,9 %), subissant une entérotomie (23,9, 61,5 et 52,9 %), et traités par résection/anastomose (11,9, 28,9 et 39,7 %) ont été identifiées ( = 0,02, < 0,0001 et = 0,001). Le taux global d’infection incisionnelle à l’hôpital était de 12,8 %, sans différence entre les groupes (10,4, 13,5 et 14,7 %; = 0,80). Des différences dans les proportions de chevaux présentant des complications postopératoires gastro-intestinales (29,9, 42,3 et 55,9 %; = 0,009) et d’autres complications inflammatoires/infectieuses (13,4, 33,1 et 36,8 %; = 0,007) ont été identifiées. Il n’y avait aucune différence entre les groupes en termes de survie à la sortie (97,0, 96,2 et 89,7 %; = 0,20). La durée d’hospitalisation était plus longue chez les chevaux du G3 [11 j (5 à 48 j)] que chez les chevaux du G1 [8 j (5 à 63 j)] ( < 0,0001). Le coût de l’hospitalisation était plus élevé pour les chevaux du G3 [9 410 $ (3 790 $ à 29 240 $)] que pour ceux du G2 [7 340 $ (1 860 $ à 15 260 $)], lui-même plus élevé que pour ceux du G1 [5 330 $ (3 280 $ à 17 140 $)] ( < 0,0001). Unassigned: Les antimicrobiens ont été utilisés plus longtemps chez les chevaux présentant des troubles intestinaux plus importants, après des interventions chirurgicales ayant pénétré l’intestin et dans les cas présentant diverses complications postopératoires. Il est à noter que l’infection incisionnelle était une complication indépendante de la durée du traitement. Le nombre limité de cas dans certains sous-groupes a réduit la puissance statistique, et les résultats doivent être interprétés en conséquence. Unassigned: Dans cette étude, les facteurs opératoires et postopératoires associés à une utilisation prolongée d’antimicrobiens ont déjà été identifiés comme influençant la décision clinique concernant la durée du traitement. Cependant, le taux similaire d’infection incisionnelle entre les groupes suggère que ce risque devrait avoir une influence minimale sur les cliniciens lors du choix de la durée du traitement. Cette étude a souligné la nécessité de mener d’autres études prospectives en aveugle pour déterminer les risques et les bénéfices de l’utilisation d’antimicrobiens en période postopératoire.(Traduit par D Serge Messier).
Publication Date: 2025-06-13 PubMed ID: 40510283PubMed Central: PMC12152684
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  • Journal Article

Summary

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The research article seeks to understand the factors that may impact the duration of antimicrobial therapy in horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy for colic. The study closely examines the operative and postoperative conditions, looking for specific conditions that would cause veterinarians to prolong the course of antibiotics post-surgery. The study further investigates if the choice of antibiotic duration influences the long-term outcome of the horses.

Methodology

  • The research is a retrospective cohort study involving horses aging above one month, which underwent exploratory celiotomy for colic and survived the operation without the need for repeat surgery after five days.
  • The study further categorizes the cases into three groups: G1 received ≤ 24 hours of antimicrobial therapy; G2 received 1 to 3 days of therapy and G3 received > 3 days of therapy.
  • Various data including admission details, surgical procedures, and postoperative condition were gathered from medical records, and long-term outcomes were evaluated via telephone follow-ups.
  • In total, 187 horses (67, 52, and 68 for G1, G2, and G3, respectively) were included in the study.

Findings

  • Differences in proportions of horses with specific conditions like strangulating lesions and undergoing particular surgical procedures like an enterotomy were identified among the groups.
  • There was no significant difference in the rate of incisional infection accrued in the hospital across the groups.
  • However, the study did find a significant difference in the occurrence of gastrointestinal and other inflammatory/infectious postoperative complications among the groups.
  • The survival rates of the horses to the time of discharge were similar across all groups.
  • The study observed an increase in hospitalisation duration and cost in the group that received antimicrobials for a duration over three days (G3).
  • Interestingly, the study also found that the incidence of incisional infection had no association with the duration of antimicrobial therapy.

Conclusion

  • The study concludes that antibiotics were used for longer durations in horses with more compromised bowel conditions, following surgical procedures that entered the intestine, and in cases which presented a variety of postoperative complications.
  • While the use of antimicrobials tended to be longer in such cases, the study observed that the risk of the site of incision becoming infected was similar across the groups, suggesting this risk need not influence the decision on the length of therapy.
  • The limited number of cases in some subgroups reduced the statistical power of the study, and findings should be interpreted with these limitations in mind.
  • Lastly, the study urges on conducting further prospective, blinded studies to ascertain the risks and benefits of prolonged antimicrobial use in the postoperative period.

Cite This Article

APA
Crabtree NE, Capper AM, McKinnon LH, Epstein KL. (2025). Perioperative factors and outcomes associated with antimicrobial therapy duration in horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy. Can Vet J, 66(6), 653-662.

Publication

ISSN: 0008-5286
NlmUniqueID: 0004653
Country: Canada
Language: English
Volume: 66
Issue: 6
Pages: 653-662

Researcher Affiliations

Crabtree, Naomi E
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 2200 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30606, USA.
Capper, Ava M
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 2200 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30606, USA.
McKinnon, Laura H
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 2200 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30606, USA.
Epstein, Kira L
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, 2200 College Station Road, Athens, Georgia 30606, USA.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horse Diseases / drug therapy
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Female
  • Male
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Colic / veterinary
  • Colic / surgery
  • Colic / drug therapy
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / administration & dosage
  • Surgical Wound Infection / veterinary
  • Cohort Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Postoperative Complications / veterinary

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