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Equine veterinary journal. Supplement2001; (32); 42-51; doi: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2000.tb05333.x

Short- and long-term survival and prevalence of postoperative ileus after small intestinal surgery in the horse.

Abstract: The records of 74 horses that recovered from anaesthesia after surgery for a small intestinal lesion from 1994 to 1999 were reviewed. Sixty-three horses (85%) had a strangulating lesion and 43 of these (68%) had a resection and anastomosis. Four of 11 horses (36%) without a strangulating lesion had a resection and anastomosis. Sixty-three horses (85%) survived to discharge, with a survival rate of 53/63 in horses with a strangulating lesion (84%) and 10/11 (91%) in others. For all lesions, short-term survival for all end-to-end anastomoses (91%; 21/23) and for no resection (92%; 23/25) were superior (P 7 months was 52/69 (75%) and for > 12 months was 39/57 (68%). The estimated prevalence of adhesions was 13%. Short-term survival was poorest in horses that had a jejunocaecostomy, but long-term survival was less affected by the anastomosis used. The sharpest decline in survival was during the first postoperative week and postoperative mortality then declined over time after surgery. A postoperative protocol that allowed early postoperative feeding was well tolerated. The results confirm that the overall prognosis after small intestinal surgery in horses is improved over earlier findings.
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Publication Date: 2001-02-24 PubMed ID: 11202382DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.2000.tb05333.xGoogle Scholar: Lookup
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  • Journal Article

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 under review focused on studying the survival rates and incidences of postoperative ileus (abdominal pain caused by a disorder of the motor function of the gut) in horses following small intestinal surgery. 74 horses that had recovered from anesthesia after surgery were studied over a period from 1994 to 1999 and the variations in survival rates were studied with relation to different surgical procedures and complications.

Sample and Procedures

  • The research based its findings on the veterinary records of 74 horses that had undergone surgery for small intestinal lesions between 1994 and 1999.
  • Out of these, 63 horses (85%) had a strangulating lesion (an intestine obstruction) and 43 among these (68%) underwent a surgical procedure called resection and anastomosis (intestinal cutting and suturing).
  • Only 4 out of the 11 horses (36%) without a strangulating lesion went through resection and anastomosis.

Survival Rates

  • 63 horses (85%) survived until discharge, with survival rates showing differences based on the type of lesion and the surgical procedure performed.
  • Survival rate in horses that had a strangulating lesion was 84% (53 out of 63 horses) and for other horses, it was 91% (10 out of 11).
  • Considering all types of lesions, short-term survival was significantly higher for all end-to-end anastomosis (91%) procedures where the two cut ends of the intestine were joined together versus the survival rate for jejunocaecal anastomosis (76%), where the jejunum (portion of the intestine) was connected to the cecum (a pouch within the large intestine).

Ileus and Repeat Surgeries

  • 14 horses (19%) had to go through a repeat surgery during hospitalization, out of which 64% (9 horses) survived in the short-term.
  • Postoperative ileus developed in 10% (7 out of 70) of the horses, all of which had a strangulating lesion.
  • Postoperative ileus was more likely to happen after a jejunocaecostomy than any other procedures and did not develop at all following a jejunojejunostomy, a surgery where two parts of the jejunum are connected.

Long-term Survival and Complications

  • Long-term survival for horses post-surgery was 75% over 7 months and 68% over 12 months.
  • The estimated occurrence of adhesions (bands of scar tissue that can form between abdominal tissues and organs, often as a result of surgery) was 13%.
  • Horses that had a jejunocaecostomy had the poorest short-term survival rates, but the anastomosis used had less of an impact on long-term survival rates.
  • The highest decrease in survival was observed during the first postoperative week, with postoperative mortality steadily reducing over time after surgery.

Postoperative Care and Findings

  • A postoperative protocol that allowed for early postoperative feeding was well tolerated by the horses.
  • Overall, these findings reveal an improvement in prognosis after small intestinal surgery in horses when compared to earlier research data.

Cite This Article

APA
Freeman DE, Hammock P, Baker GJ, Goetz T, Foreman JH, Schaeffer DJ, Richter RA, Inoue O, Magid JH. (2001). Short- and long-term survival and prevalence of postoperative ileus after small intestinal surgery in the horse. Equine Vet J Suppl(32), 42-51. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.2042-3306.2000.tb05333.x

Publication

Equine veterinary journal. Supplement
NlmUniqueID: 9614088
Country: United States
Language: English
Issue: 32
Pages: 42-51

Researcher Affiliations

Freeman, D E
  • University of Illinois, College of Veterinary Medicine, 1008 West Hazelwood Dr., Urbana, Illinois 61802, USA.
Hammock, P
    Baker, G J
      Goetz, T
        Foreman, J H
          Schaeffer, D J
            Richter, R A
              Inoue, O
                Magid, J H

                  MeSH Terms

                  • Anastomosis, Surgical / veterinary
                  • Animals
                  • Colic / mortality
                  • Colic / surgery
                  • Colic / veterinary
                  • Horse Diseases / mortality
                  • Horse Diseases / surgery
                  • Horses
                  • Ileal Diseases / mortality
                  • Ileal Diseases / surgery
                  • Ileal Diseases / veterinary
                  • Illinois / epidemiology
                  • Intestinal Obstruction / mortality
                  • Intestinal Obstruction / veterinary
                  • Postoperative Complications / mortality
                  • Postoperative Complications / veterinary
                  • Prevalence
                  • Severity of Illness Index
                  • Survival Analysis

                  Citations

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