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Prevalence and risk factors associated with outcome of surgical removal of pedunculated lipomas in horses: 102 cases (1987-2002).
Abstract: To determine the prevalence of pedunculated lipomas and identify risk factors affecting postoperative complications and survival in horses at a veterinary teaching hospital undergoing surgery for colic caused by pedunculated lipomas. Methods: Retrospective study. Methods: 102 horses with a diagnosis of pedunculated lipoma. Methods: Age, breed, weight, and sex of horses with pedunculated lipomas were compared with the total equine hospital population and the population of horses admitted for abdominal surgery during the same period. Follow-up information was obtained by reevaluation or contact with owners via telephone or written request. Results: Prevalence of pedunculated lipomas as a reason for abdominal surgery in horses, compared with the population of horses with and without lipomas admitted for abdominal surgery, was 10%. Castrated male Saddlebred and Arabian horses > 14 years old were identified as being at risk for developing pedunculated lipomas. Postoperative complications were detected in 72% of horses with pedunculated lipomas. Variables associated with low survival rates included surgery before 1992, heart rate > 80 beats/min, abnormal color of abdominal fluid, pale mucous membranes, surgery requiring intestinal resection, and inability to attain a mean arterial pressure > or = 100 mm Hg. Horses undergoing surgery from 1992 to 1996, weighing < 409 kg (900 lb), or requiring jejunojejunal anastomosis had a high survival rate. Conclusions: Although many of the variables reflected the health of the horse at the time of surgery, results may help veterinarians recognize risk factors associated with development of pedunculated lipomas and better predict the outcome of horses undergoing surgery for colic caused by pedunculated lipomas.
Publication Date: 2005-05-11 PubMed ID: 15882006DOI: 10.2460/javma.2005.226.1529Google Scholar: Lookup The Equine Research Bank provides access to a large database of publicly available scientific literature. Inclusion in the Research Bank does not imply endorsement of study methods or findings by Mad Barn.
- Journal Article
Summary
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This research article reports on a study conducted to determine the prevalence of pedunculated lipomas in horses and identify the risk factors that could affect the outcome of surgeries involving their removal. The findings indicated that certain variables, such as horse age, breed, weight, and history, influence the prevalence of these lipomas and the complications resulting from their surgical removal.
Research Methods
- The researchers conducted a retrospective study on 102 horses diagnosed with pedunculated lipomas at a veterinary teaching hospital.
- The age, breed, weight, and sex of these horses were compared with the overall equine population as well as the population of horses admitted for abdominal surgery during the same period.
- Information regarding the horses’ condition post-surgery was obtained through reevaluation or contact with the owners,
Research Findings
- The study found that the prevalence of pedunculated lipomas, as a reason for abdominal surgeries in horses, compared to the population of horses with and without lipomas, was 10%.
- Some breeds, such as Saddlebred and Arabian horses, especially those who are older than 14 years and castrated males, showed a higher risk of developing pedunculated lipomas.
- Postoperative complications were observed in 72% of the horses studied.
- Lower survival rates were found in horses who had surgery before 1992, those experiencing heart rates above 80 BPM, those with abnormal color of abdominal fluid or pale mucous membranes, and those requiring intestinal resection or an inability to maintain a mean arterial pressure above or equal to 100 mm Hg.
- Meanwhile, horses that underwent surgery between 1992 and 1996, those weighing less than 409 kg, or those requiring jejunojejunal anastomosis, showed higher survival rates.
Conclusions
- While most of the significant variables pertained to the horse’s health at the time of surgery, the study results can assist veterinarians in identifying the risk factors related to the development of pedunculated lipomas.
- Moreover, understanding these factors can help predict the outcome of surgeries performed to treat colic caused by these lipomas.
Cite This Article
APA
Garcia-Seco E, Wilson DA, Kramer J, Keegan KG, Branson KR, Johnson PJ, Tyler JW.
(2005).
Prevalence and risk factors associated with outcome of surgical removal of pedunculated lipomas in horses: 102 cases (1987-2002).
J Am Vet Med Assoc, 226(9), 1529-1537.
https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2005.226.1529 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65211, USA.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Animals
- Colic / complications
- Colic / surgery
- Colic / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / epidemiology
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Lipoma / epidemiology
- Lipoma / mortality
- Lipoma / surgery
- Lipoma / veterinary
- Male
- Orchiectomy / veterinary
- Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
- Postoperative Complications / mortality
- Postoperative Complications / surgery
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Prevalence
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Survival Analysis
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- 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).
- Erwin SJ, Clark ME, Dechant JE, Aitken MR, Hassel DM, Blikslager AT, Ziegler AL. Multi-Institutional Retrospective Case-Control Study Evaluating Clinical Outcomes of Foals with Small Intestinal Strangulating Obstruction: 2000-2020. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 27;12(11).
- Bishop RC, Gutierrez-Nibeyro SD, Stewart MC, McCoy AM. Performance of predictive models of survival in horses undergoing emergency exploratory laparotomy for colic. Vet Surg 2022 Aug;51(6):891-902.
- Kos VK, Kramaric P, Brloznik M. Packed cell volume and heart rate to predict medical and surgical cases and their short-term survival in horses with gastrointestinal-induced colic. Can Vet J 2022 Apr;63(4):365-372.
- Arnhold S, Elashry MI, Klymiuk MC, Geburek F. Investigation of stemness and multipotency of equine adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASCs) from different fat sources in comparison with lipoma. Stem Cell Res Ther 2019 Oct 22;10(1):309.
- Barker I, Freeman SL. Assessment of costs and insurance policies for referral treatment of equine colic. Vet Rec 2019 Oct 26;185(16):508.
- Fortin JS, Royal AB, Kuroki K. Concurrent thoracic mesothelioma and thyroid C-cell adenoma with amyloid deposition in an aged horse. Vet Med Sci 2018 Feb;4(1):63-70.
- Salem SE, Proudman CJ, Archer DC. Has intravenous lidocaine improved the outcome in horses following surgical management of small intestinal lesions in a UK hospital population?. BMC Vet Res 2016 Jul 27;12(1):157.
- Chum HH, Long CT, McKeon GP, Chang AG, Luong RH, Albertelli MA. Abdominal lipomatosis with secondary self-strangulation of masses in an adult rhesus macaque (Macaca mulatta). Comp Med 2014 Oct;64(5):404-8.
- Johnson PJ, Wiedmeyer CE, Messer NT, Ganjam VK. Medical implications of obesity in horses--lessons for human obesity. J Diabetes Sci Technol 2009 Jan;3(1):163-74.
- Bishop RC, Arrington JV, Wilkins PA, McCoy AM. Alterations in the Peritoneal Fluid Proteome of Horses with Colic Attributed to Ischemic and Non-Ischemic Intestinal Disease. Animals (Basel) 2025 May 30;15(11).
- Gillen A, Archer D, Ireland J, Rocchigiani G. Characterising equine abdominal lipomata: Can histological features improve the understanding of pathogenesis and risk?. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1490-1499.
- Ross M, Proudfoot K, Campbell Nishimura E, Morabito E, Merkies K, Mitchell J, Ritter C. 'It's more emotionally based': Prince Edward Island horse owner perspectives of horse weight management. Anim Welf 2024;33:e14.
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