Preoperative factors associated with resection and anastomosis in horses presenting with strangulating lesions of the small intestine.

The article focuses on identifying the preoperative and intraoperative factors that may predict the need for a surgical procedure called resection and anastomosis (RA) in horses with small intestine (SI) strangulating lesions. The research indicates that horses with certain symptoms at hospital admission are more likely to undergo RA and it impacts their survival rate.

Objective of the Study

• The main goal of this research was to investigate if certain preoperative and intraoperative clinical variables can predict the need for resection and anastomosis (RA) in horses with small intestine (SI) strangulating lesions.

Methodology

• A retrospective case series study was performed where the records of 243 horses undergoing exploratory celiotomy for a strangulating SI lesion between 2000 and 2017 were examined.
• The horses were divided into two categories, those treated with RA and those not treated with RA. Various information, including history, clinical findings, diagnostic test results, intraoperative findings, and survival to discharge, was gathered from the records.
• Statistical analyses were conducted to compare data between the two groups of horses. The significance value was set at P = .05.

Results

• In total, RA was performed on 172 SI lesions while the remaining 71 were not resected.
• The study found that horses having gastric reflux at admission (odds ratio [OR] 5.56; 95% CI 1.76, 17.59) and those with an unmoving SI as per abdominal ultrasonography (OR 9.69; 95% CI 3.09, 30.37) were more likely to undergo RA.
• An increased difference between peritoneal fluid and blood lactate was higher in horses that underwent RA (OR 1.55; 95% CI 1.12, 2.13).
• Survival until hospital discharge was lower in the group of horses that underwent RA compared to those who weren’t treated with RA.

Conclusions

• The research concluded that the likelihood of RA in horses with strangulating SI lesions is associated with several preoperative variables.
• The study emphasizes the significance of preoperative diagnostic procedures in assisting intraoperative decisions and predicting outcomes in horses with these types of lesions.