Standing rectal and tail surgery.

The research paper discusses how multiple rectal, perirectal, and tail surgeries can be carried out on horses while they’re standing given the presence of adequate chemical and physical restraints and regional anesthesia. It touches upon the management of complications like rectal impaction or incisional dehiscence, and explains that the main consideration is handling tenesmus in horses that have rectal tears or prolapses.

The Surgical Process

• The researchers outline how a variety of rectal, perirectal, and coccygeal surgeries can be performed in a standing horse, provided there are suitable chemical and physical restraints alongside effective regional anesthesia.
• The paper indicates that ailments such as rectal tears, rectal prolapses, mass lesions, perirectal abscesses, rectal biopsies, and some tail injuries can be managed without significant difficulty.
• However, severe injuries which affect the small colon above the peritoneal reflection may necessitate serious measures such as a flank laparotomy, midline celiotomy, or in some cases, humane euthanasia to properly handle the disease.

Managing Post-Surgery

• One of the major concerns outlined during the post-operative period is controlling tenesmus, a recurrent strong urge to defecate, in horses which have experienced rectal tears or prolapses.
• The researchers discuss the use of medications to control bowel movement, epidural anesthesia, antiinflammatory analgesics, and topical compounds potent enough to soothe and lubricate inflamed rectal tissues as crucial supplementary treatments in the aftercare of these surgical patients.
• Maintaining a loose fecal consistency with laxative diets, psyllium, and mineral oil is stated as vitally important. This is because failing to keep the stool soft after treating these conditions could lead to rectal impaction or incisional dehiscence and potentially result in a failed surgery.