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Home / Equine Research Bank / J Am Vet Med Assoc / Risk factors associated with development of postoperative il...
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association2001; 219(1); 72-78; doi: 10.2460/javma.2001.219.72

Risk factors associated with development of postoperative ileus in horses.

Abstract: To determine risk factors associated with development of postoperative ileus in horses undergoing surgery for colic. Methods: Case-control study. Methods: 69 horses that developed ileus after surgery for colic and 307 horses that did not develop postoperative ileus. Methods: Signalment, history, clinicopathologic data, treatment, lesions, and outcome were obtained from medical records. Results: Variables associated with increased risk of postoperative ileus included age > 10 years, Arabian breed, PCV > or = 45%, high serum concentrations of protein and albumin, anesthesia > 2.5 hours' duration, surgery > 2 hours' duration, resection and anastomosis, and lesions in the small intestine. Enterotomy reduced the risk of postoperative ileus. After multivariate logistic regression, the final model included the variables Arabian breed, PCV > or = 45%, lesion type, duration of surgery (> 2 hours vs < or = 2 hours), and pelvic flexure enterotomy. Conclusions: Results suggest that by evaluating certain factors, horses at increased risk of postoperative ileus may be recognized before the condition develops. Preventative treatment and early intervention may be instituted in these horses. Shortening surgery time and performing an enterotomy may decrease the probability of horses developing postoperative ileus.
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Publication Date: 2001-07-07 PubMed ID: 11439775DOI: 10.2460/javma.2001.219.72Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Research Support
  • Non-U.S. Gov't

Summary

This research summary has been generated with artificial intelligence and may contain errors and omissions. Refer to the original study to confirm details provided. Submit correction.

The research aims to identify the risk factors that increase the likelihood of ileus, a digestive disorder, in horses after they’ve undergone surgery for colic. It reveals that factors such as age, breed, long surgical and anesthesia times, and specific surgical procedures can influence the condition’s development.

Research Methodology

  • The research is based on a case-control study design. The authors compared 69 horses that developed ileus after surgery for colic (cases) and 307 horses that did not develop postoperative ileus (controls).
  • In gathering their data, the researchers used signalment (a summary of identifying features of an animal), history, clinicopathologic data, treatment, lesions, and outcome derived from the horses’ medical records.

Results and Findings

  • The research discovered multiple factors that increase the risk of postoperative ileus. These include older age (over 10 years), Arabian breed, high packed cell volume (PCV) of 45% or more, high serum (or blood) concentrations of protein and albumin, anesthesia duration of over 2.5 hours, surgery duration over 2 hours, and lesions in the small intestine.
  • Additionally, the process of resection (surgical removal of all or part of an organ, tissue, or structure) and anastomosis (a surgical connection between two structures) was found to increase the risk.
  • Interestingly, an operation called enterotomy, a surgical procedure that involves making an incision into the intestine, was found to decrease the risk of postoperative ileus.
  • After performing multivariate logistic regression, the final model identified the most influential factors as Arabian breed, PCV of 45% or higher, lesion type, and surgery duration greater than 2 hours. Pelvic flexure enterotomy was also included, suggesting that this procedure reduces the risk.

Conclusions and Suggestions

  • The research concluded that by evaluating certain factors, it could be possible to identify horses at an increased risk of developing postoperative ileus before it occurs. This allows for early intervention strategies, including preventative treatment, to be put in place.
  • The authors also suggest that shortening surgery times and performing an enterotomy may reduce the likelihood of postoperative ileus.

Cite This Article

APA
Roussel AJ, Cohen ND, Hooper RN, Rakestraw PC. (2001). Risk factors associated with development of postoperative ileus in horses. J Am Vet Med Assoc, 219(1), 72-78. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.2001.219.72

Publication

Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
ISSN: 0003-1488
NlmUniqueID: 7503067
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 219
Issue: 1
Pages: 72-78

Researcher Affiliations

Roussel, A J
  • Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA.
Cohen, N D
    Hooper, R N
      Rakestraw, P C

        MeSH Terms

        • Age Factors
        • Animals
        • Breeding
        • Case-Control Studies
        • Colic / complications
        • Colic / surgery
        • Colic / veterinary
        • Horse Diseases / epidemiology
        • Horse Diseases / etiology
        • Horse Diseases / surgery
        • Horses
        • Intestinal Obstruction / epidemiology
        • Intestinal Obstruction / etiology
        • Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
        • Odds Ratio
        • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
        • Postoperative Complications / etiology
        • Postoperative Complications / veterinary
        • Regression Analysis
        • Risk Factors
        • Survival Analysis
        • Time Factors

        Citations

        This article has been cited 10 times.
        1. 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).
          doi: 10.3390/ani13152518pubmed: 37570326google scholar: lookup
        2. Ruff J, Zetterstrom S, Boone L, Hofmeister E, Smith C, Epstein K, Blikslager A, Fogle C, Burke M. Retrospective analysis of postoperative complications following surgical treatment of ileal impaction in horses managed with manual decompression compared to jejunal enterotomy.. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1156678.
          doi: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1156678pubmed: 37180077google scholar: lookup
        3. 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.
          pubmed: 35368402
        4. Cuevas-Ramos G, Domenech L, Prades M. Small Intestine Ultrasound Findings on Horses Following Exploratory Laparotomy, Can We Predict Postoperative Reflux?. Animals (Basel) 2019 Dec 9;9(12).
          doi: 10.3390/ani9121106pubmed: 31835406google scholar: lookup
        5. Laus F, Fratini M, Paggi E, Faillace V, Spaterna A, Tesei B, Fettucciari K, Bassotti G. Effects of Single-Dose Prucalopride on Intestinal Hypomotility in Horses: Preliminary Observations.. Sci Rep 2017 Jan 27;7:41526.
          doi: 10.1038/srep41526pubmed: 28128322google scholar: lookup
        6. McConachie E, Giguère S, Barton MH. Scoring System for Multiple Organ Dysfunction in Adult Horses with Acute Surgical Gastrointestinal Disease.. J Vet Intern Med 2016 Jul;30(4):1276-83.
          doi: 10.1111/jvim.14321pubmed: 27296454google scholar: lookup
        7. Anderson SL, Bracamonte JL, Hendrick S. Ex vivo evaluation of 7 polydioxanone for closure of equine ventral midline celiotomies.. Can J Vet Res 2014 Apr;78(2):156-60.
          pubmed: 24688180
        8. Davis HA, Munsterman A. Ileal impaction and jejunal enterotomy in a 4-month-old Arabian filly.. Can Vet J 2012 Jan;53(1):71-4.
          pubmed: 22753967
        9. Koenig J, Cote N. Equine gastrointestinal motility--ileus and pharmacological modification.. Can Vet J 2006 Jun;47(6):551-9.
          pubmed: 16808227
        10. Delesalle C, Deprez P, Schuurkes JA, Lefebvre RA. Contractile effects of 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-carboxamidotryptamine in the equine jejunum.. Br J Pharmacol 2006 Jan;147(1):23-35.
          doi: 10.1038/sj.bjp.0706431pubmed: 16230998google scholar: lookup
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