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Home / Equine Research Bank / Equine Vet J / Scoping review: Occurrence and definitions of postoperative ...
Equine veterinary journal2022; 55(4); 563-572; doi: 10.1111/evj.13881

Scoping review: Occurrence and definitions of postoperative complications in equine colic surgery.

Abstract: Postoperative complications frequently occur following equine colic surgery but there is a lack of consistency in their definitions and reporting. Objective: To perform a scoping review to identify current evidence on the definitions and classifications of postoperative complications in equine colic surgery. Methods: Evidence review. Methods: A scoping review was conducted in CAB, Web of Science, Scopus and PubMed databases using a PCC (Population-equids, Concept-complications, adverse events, sequelae, failure to cure, technical failure, disease progression and Context-postoperative period after colic surgery) search strategy. Peer-reviewed scientific articles in the English language on equine colic surgery in live client-owned equids between 1992 and 2022 were included. The resulting references were independently and blindly screened by two investigators. Relevant data on the study method, sample size, intestinal tract involvement and postoperative complications were extracted and charted. Results: Among 5850 articles potentially eligible, 272 met the final inclusion criteria. The most frequent types of study design were retrospective cohort studies (121/272) and retrospective case series (82/272). Median sample size was 53 animals, range 3-896. Seventy-nine of 272 (29%) studies reported diseases of the small intestine, 65 of 272 (24%) of the large intestine and 128 of 272 (47%) reported both. Seventy-two studies (26.4%) focused on single complications. No study explicitly defined the term complication or cited a classification of complications. One study reported the definitions of 'sequela', 'progression' or 'recurrence' of lesions. Eighty-one postoperative complications were reported in two-time frames defined as short- and long-term. The definitions of most complications and long-term follow-ups were highly variable. Conclusions: Non-English language studies or conference proceedings were excluded. Conclusions: There was a substantial lack of classifications of postoperative complications. The definitions of complications were highly variable, making it difficult to compare studies. Adopting classification systems and definitions may help surgeons to obtain a complete picture of the efficacy of a procedure or treatment and allow comparisons between studies, centres or time periods.
© 2022 The Authors. Equine Veterinary Journal published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of EVJ Ltd.
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Publication Date: 2022-10-19 PubMed ID: 36199160DOI: 10.1111/evj.13881Google Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article
  • Scoping Review

Summary

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The research article discusses a scoping review aimed at identifying existing evidence on the definitions and classifications of postoperative complications that occur after equine colic surgery due to inconsistencies in their definitions and reporting.

Objective and Methods

  • The objective of this study was to scrutinize existing literature to understand how postoperative complications in equine colic surgery are defined and classified currently.
  • The researchers conducted a scoping review across CAB, Web of Science, Scopus, and PubMed databases, using a PCC (Population-equids, Concept-complications, adverse events, sequelae, failure to cure, technical failure, disease progression and Context-postoperative period after colic surgery) search strategy.
  • The focused research included peer-reviewed articles written in English, on equine colic surgery performed on live client-owned equids between 1992 and 2022.
  • A thorough screening of these articles was carried out by two investigators independently and blindly, in order to counter biases.
  • Data on the study method, sample size, type of intestinal tract involved, and postoperative complications were taken out and organized accordingly.

Results

  • A total of 5850 articles were identified through the search process, of which 272 met the final inclusion criteria.
  • The most common types of study designs were retrospective cohort studies and retrospective case series.
  • Most of the studies reported diseases of both the small intestine and large intestine after the surgery.
  • None of the studies explicitly defined the term complication or referred to any classification system for complications, while only one study mentioned definitions of ‘sequela’, ‘progression’ or ‘recurrence’ of lesions.
  • A total of 81 postoperative complications were reported in two distinct time frames – short-term and long-term, but these definitions varied greatly.

Conclusions

  • The research excluded studies written in non-English languages or conference proceedings.
  • The major finding was the significant lack of assorted classifications for postoperative complications, alongside highly variable definitions.
  • The researchers suggest that adopting classification systems and standard definitions of complications could aid surgeons in understanding the efficacy of a procedure or treatment and allow for more accurate comparisons across studies, medical centres, and time periods.

Cite This Article

APA
Gandini M, Cerullo A, Giusto G. (2022). Scoping review: Occurrence and definitions of postoperative complications in equine colic surgery. Equine Vet J, 55(4), 563-572. https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.13881

Publication

Equine veterinary journal
ISSN: 2042-3306
NlmUniqueID: 0173320
Country: United States
Language: English
Volume: 55
Issue: 4
Pages: 563-572

Researcher Affiliations

Gandini, Marco
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Cerullo, Anna
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.
Giusto, Gessica
  • Department of Veterinary Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.

MeSH Terms

  • Animals
  • Horses
  • Colic / surgery
  • Colic / veterinary
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
  • Postoperative Complications / veterinary
  • Intestine, Small / pathology
  • Research Design
  • Horse Diseases / surgery
  • Horse Diseases / pathology

References

This article includes 24 references
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