Predisposing factors for small colon impaction in horses and outcome of medical and surgical treatment: 44 cases (1999-2004).
Abstract: To identify factors associated with development of small colon impaction in horses and with selection of medical versus surgical treatment and to determine the prognosis for affected horses following medical or surgical management. Methods: Retrospective case series. Methods: 44 horses with primary impaction of the small colon. Methods: Medical records were reviewed for signalment, history, clinical findings, treatment (medical vs surgical), hospitalization time, and outcome. For comparison purposes, the same information was collected for 83 horses with primary impaction of the large colon. Results: Diarrhea was the only factor found to be associated with development of small colon impaction. Horses with small colon impaction were 10.8 times as likely to have diarrhea at the time of initial examination as were horses with large colon impaction. Abdominal distension was the only factor associated with use of surgical versus medical treatment. Horses with small colon impaction that were treated surgically were 5.2 times as likely to have had abdominal distension at the time of admission as were horses with small colon impaction that were treated medically. Overall, 21 of 23 (91%) horses treated medically and 20 of 21 (95%) horses treated surgically survived to discharge. Conclusions: Results suggest that diarrhea may be a risk factor for development of small colon impaction and that horses with small colon impaction that have abdominal distension at the time of initial examination are more likely to require surgical than medical treatment.
Publication Date: 2006-11-17 PubMed ID: 17107318DOI: 10.2460/javma.229.10.1612Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
Summary
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The research study deals with identifying the factors contributing to the occurrence of small colon impaction in horses and reviewing the success of different treatment methods like surgery and medication. The key outcomes revealed that diarrhea could be a lead-up to the development of small colon impaction, and horses with abdominal distension were more likely to need surgical intervention.
Research Methodology
- The researchers adopted a retrospective case series study method and examined the medical records of 44 horses that had primary impaction in the small colon.
- The records provided useful data on the general condition, medical history, clinical findings, type of treatment (surgical or medical), duration of hospitalization, and the final outcome.
- For a comparative analysis, similar information was drawn from 83 horses suffering from primary impaction in the large colon.
Key Findings
- Diarrhea was identified as the only factor linked with the development of small colon impaction. Horses with small colon impaction were about 11 times more likely to have diarrhea at the time of initial examination as compared to those with large colon impaction.
- Abdominal distension was the only factor correlated with the decision to use surgical treatment as opposed to medical treatment. Horses suffering from small colon impaction that exhibited abdominal distension at the time of admission were 5.2 times more liable to undergo surgical treatment.
- The end-results were positive with 91% of medically-treated horses and 95% of the surgically-treated horses surviving and successfully discharged.
Conclusions
- The data suggests diarrhea could be an underlying risk factor for the onset of small colon impaction in horses.
- The presence of abdominal distension at the time of initial examination in horses with small colon impaction necessitates surgical treatment more often than medical treatment.
Cite This Article
APA
Frederico LM, Jones SL, Blikslager AT.
(2006).
Predisposing factors for small colon impaction in horses and outcome of medical and surgical treatment: 44 cases (1999-2004).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 229(10), 1612-1616.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.229.10.1612 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC 27606, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Abdomen / pathology
- Animals
- Cathartics / therapeutic use
- Diarrhea / complications
- Diarrhea / veterinary
- Fecal Impaction / drug therapy
- Fecal Impaction / surgery
- Fecal Impaction / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / drug therapy
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Male
- Prognosis
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Haywood LMB, Clark A, Hause B, Sheahan B. A novel kirkovirus may be associated with equine gastrointestinal disease. Equine Vet J 2026 Mar;58(2):414-422.
- Scilimati N, Cerullo A, Nannarone S, Gialletti R, Giusto G, Bertoletti A. Small Colon Faecalith with Large Colon Displacement in Ten Cases (2015-2023): A Detailed Case Description and Literature Review. Animals (Basel) 2024 Jan 15;14(2).
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