Prevention of post operative complications following surgical treatment of equine colic: Current evidence.
Abstract: Changes in management of the surgical colic patient over the last 30 years have resulted in considerable improvement in post operative survival rates. However, post operative complications remain common and these impact negatively on horse welfare, probability of survival, return to previous use and the costs of treatment. Multiple studies have investigated risk factors for post operative complications following surgical management of colic and interventions that might be effective in reducing the likelihood of these occurring. The findings from these studies are frequently contradictory and the evidence for many interventions is lacking or inconclusive. This review discusses the current available evidence and identifies areas where further studies are necessary and factors that should be taken into consideration in study design.
© 2015 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2015-11-06 PubMed ID: 26440916DOI: 10.1111/evj.12517Google Scholar: Lookup
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- Journal Article
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
- Review
Summary
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The study reviews the changes in the management of surgical colic over time and their impact on postoperative complications and survival rates in horses. While improvements have been made, complications remain a significant issue and much of the available research provides contradictory or inconclusive results regarding interventions to reduce them.
Changes in Surgical Colic Management
- The research paper begins by discussing how the management strategies for surgical colic in horses have evolved over the past 30 years. It touches on the fact that these changes have led to a substantial improvement in postoperative survival rates.
- This means that many horses are surviving and living longer after their surgery than they would have three decades ago.
Postoperative Complications in Horses
- Despite these strides forward, the study notes that postoperative complications are still a common occurrence. These complications can have a range of negative effects, including poor horse welfare, reduced chances of survival, an inability to return to previous use, and increased treatment costs.
- Such complications can be various, potentially including infections, reactions to anaesthesia, systemic health concerns, or physical issues resulting from the surgical intervention.
Existing Research and Evidence on Postoperative Complications
- The study details multiple studies carried out to identify risk factors for postoperative complications following surgical management of colic, as well as potential interventions that might help reduce the odds of such complications happening.
- However, it notes that the results of many of these studies offer contradictory findings or lack solid, conclusive evidence to support particular interventions.
- The review uses this summary of existing research to highlight the complexity and ongoing challenges in this area.
Future Research Directions and Considerations
- Finally, the study pushes for more comprehensive and well-structured research in the future to better understand how postoperative complications can be reduced.
- It outlines several factors that future research must consider in their design, including coefficients of risk, individual horse characteristics, and the details of the surgical and postoperative treatment procedures.
Cite This Article
APA
Salem SE, Proudman CJ, Archer DC.
(2015).
Prevention of post operative complications following surgical treatment of equine colic: Current evidence.
Equine Vet J, 48(2), 143-151.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12517 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Guildford, Surrey, UK.
- Institute of Infection and Global Health and School of Veterinary Sciences, University of Liverpool, Leahurst, Neston, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Colic / surgery
- Colic / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Postoperative Complications / prevention & control
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Risk Factors
Citations
This article has been cited 13 times.- Patton ME, Andrews FM, Bogers SH, Wong D, McKenzie HC 3rd, Werre SR, Byron CR. Effects of Bit Chewing on Gastric Emptying, Small Intestinal Transit, and Orocecal Transit Times in Clinically Normal Horses. Animals (Basel) 2023 Aug 4;13(15).
- Tyma JF, Epstein KL. Postoperative sinusitis and pneumonia following exploratory celiotomy for treatment of colic in horses. Can Vet J 2023 Jan;64(1):76-80.
- 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).
- Lightfoot KL, Burford JH, England GCW, Bowen IM, Freeman SL. Mixed methods investigation of the use of telephone triage within UK veterinary practices for horses with abdominal pain: A Participatory action research study. PLoS One 2020;15(9):e0238874.
- Salem SE, Maddox TW, Antczak P, Ketley JM, Williams NJ, Archer DC. Acute changes in the colonic microbiota are associated with large intestinal forms of surgical colic. BMC Vet Res 2019 Dec 21;15(1):468.
- Cappelli K, Gialletti R, Tesei B, Bassotti G, Fettucciari K, Capomaccio S, Bonfili L, Cuccioloni M, Eleuteri AM, Spaterna A, Laus F. Guanylin, Uroguanylin and Guanylate Cyclase-C Are Expressed in the Gastrointestinal Tract of Horses. Front Physiol 2019;10:1237.
- Scharner D, Gittel C, Winter K, Blaue D, Schedlbauer C, Vervuert I, Brehm W. Comparison of incisional complications between skin closures using a simple continuous or intradermal pattern: a pilot study in horses undergoing ventral median celiotomy. PeerJ 2018;6:e5772.
- Ziegler AL, Freeman CK, Fogle CA, Burke MJ, Davis JL, Cook VL, Southwood LL, Blikslager AT. Multicentre, blinded, randomised clinical trial comparing the use of flunixin meglumine with firocoxib in horses with small intestinal strangulating obstruction. Equine Vet J 2019 May;51(3):329-335.
- Isgren CM, Salem SE, Townsend NB, Timofte D, Maddox TW, Archer DC. Sequential bacterial sampling of the midline incision in horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy. Equine Vet J 2019 Jan;51(1):38-44.
- Gitari A, Nguhiu J, Varma V, Mogoa E. Occurrence, treatment protocols, and outcomes of colic in horses within Nairobi County, Kenya. Vet World 2017 Oct;10(10):1255-1263.
- 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.
- Isgren CM, Pinchbeck GL, Salem SE, Hann MJ, Townsend NB, Cullen MD, Archer DC. Evaluation of a stent dressing and abdominal bandage on surgical site infection following emergency equine laparotomy: A randomised controlled trial. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1466-1477.
- Matthews LB, Sanz M, Sellon DC. Long-term outcome after colic surgery: retrospective study of 106 horses in the USA (2014-2021). Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1235198.
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