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Short-term complications after colic surgery in geriatric versus mature non-geriatric horses.
Abstract: To compare in geriatric and mature horses the occurrence of short-term complications and short-term outcome associated with complications after colic surgery. Methods: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: Horses aged ≥20 years (geriatric, n = 78) and 4-15 years (mature non-geriatric, n = 156) that had exploratory celiotomy for colic and survived recovery from general anesthesia. Methods: Medical records (2000-2010) of horses that recovered from general anesthesia after colic surgery were reviewed. Postoperative complications evaluated included postoperative reflux (POR), diarrhea, inappetence, fever, leukopenia, incisional infection, incisional dehiscence, thrombophlebitis, colic, repeat celiotomy, pneumonia, and laminitis. Short-term outcome (alive vs. dead at hospital discharge) of geriatric and mature horses with these complications were compared. Data were analyzed using a χ(2) or Fisher's exact test or an ANOVA. Level of significance P < .05. Results: Geriatric horses had higher odds of having a small intestinal strangulating lesion than mature horses. A higher proportion of geriatric horses had POR and inappetence; however, there was no difference in the proportion of geriatric and mature horses with small intestinal strangulating lesions having POR. Short-term outcome with and without complications was similar between the 2 age groups. Conclusions: Geriatric and mature horses have similar occurrences of short-term complications and short-term outcomes associated with complications after colic surgery.
© Copyright 2014 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons.
Publication Date: 2014-10-07 PubMed ID: 25289944DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12281.xGoogle 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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The research focuses on comparing the short-term complications and potential outcomes after a horse undergoes colic surgery, specifically looking at geriatric horses (20 years old and over) and mature non-geriatric horses (4-15 years old).
Study Objective and Methodology
The objective of the study was to determine if there are significant differences in the occurrence of postoperative complications and outcomes in geriatric and mature non-geriatric horses who have undergone colic surgery. The investigation was a retrospective case-control study using medical records from 2000 to 2010 of horses that have recovered from anesthesia following colic surgery.
- The study involved geriatric horses (78 in total) and mature non-geriatric horses (156 in total) who have undergone exploratory celiotomy for colic and survived recovery from the general anesthesia used during surgery.
- The complications evaluated post-surgery included postoperative reflux, diarrhea, inappetence, fever, leukopenia, incisional infection and dehiscence, thrombophlebitis, colic, repeat celiotomy, pneumonia, and laminitis.
Results
The study found a few key observations.
- Geriatric horses were more likely to have a small intestinal strangulating lesion compared to mature horses.
- More geriatric horses experienced postoperative reflux and inappetence. However, among horses with small intestinal strangulating lesions, the occurrence of postoperative reflux was similar in both age groups.
- Despite the above differences, the short-term outcome, whether there were complications or not, was not significantly different between the geriatric and mature horse groups. This means that both age groups had similar rates of survival till hospital discharge.
Conclusion
The study concluded that the rate of short-term complications and the associated outcomes after colic surgery are fairly similar in geriatric and mature non-geriatric horses. While there were some differences in specific complications, the overall short-term prognosis was comparable across the two age groups. The information generated from this research may be useful for veterinary practitioners in predicting and managing potential postoperative complications in older horses undergoing colic surgery.
Cite This Article
APA
Gazzerro DM, Southwood LL, Lindborg S.
(2014).
Short-term complications after colic surgery in geriatric versus mature non-geriatric horses.
Vet Surg, 44(2), 256-264.
https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1532-950X.2014.12281.x Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.
MeSH Terms
- Age Factors
- Aging
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Cecal Diseases / surgery
- Cecal Diseases / veterinary
- Colic / surgery
- Colic / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Laparotomy / adverse effects
- Laparotomy / veterinary
- Male
- Postoperative Complications / etiology
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Surgical Wound Infection / etiology
- Surgical Wound Infection / veterinary
Citations
This article has been cited 9 times.- Elane GL, Blikslager AT, Mair TS. Trends in the management of horses referred for colic evaluation preceding and during the COVID-19 pandemic (2013-2023). Equine Vet Educ 2025 Jun;37(6):308-315.
- 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).
- 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).
- Wright S. Highlights of recent clinically relevant papers. Equine Vet Educ 2015 Apr;27(4):167-168.
- Kaufman JM, Nekouei O, Doyle AJ, Biermann NM. Clinical findings, diagnoses, and outcomes of horses presented for colic to a referral hospital in Atlantic Canada (2000-2015). Can Vet J 2020 Mar;61(3):281-288.
- Immonen IA, Karikoski N, Mykkänen A, Niemelä T, Junnila J, Tulamo RM. Long-term follow-up on recovery, return to use and sporting activity: a retrospective study of 236 operated colic horses in Finland (2006-2012). Acta Vet Scand 2017 Jan 5;59(1):5.
- 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.
- Dwyer A. Science-in-brief: clinical highlights from the American Association of Equine Practitioners 59th Annual Convention and Equine Veterinary Journal Supplement 45. Equine Vet J 2014 May;46(3):259-61.
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