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Surgical lesions of the small colon and post operative survival in a UK hospital population.
Abstract: There is limited information about risk factors and survival associated with disorders of the small colon requiring surgical management. Objective: 1) To document the types of surgical lesion in horses where pathology of the small (descending) colon was the primary cause of abdominal pain, 2) to describe the short- and long-term survival of these cases and identify factors associated with survival and 3) to identify preoperative variables associated with localisation of a lesion to the small colon. Methods: Clinical data and long-term follow-up were obtained for horses that underwent exploratory laparotomy over a 10-year period. Descriptive data were generated for short- and long-term survival and survival analysis performed to identify factors associated with reduced survival. Univariable and multivariable relationships were explored using a Cox proportional hazards model. Preoperative factors associated with increased likelihood of a small colon lesion were explored, using controls randomly selected from horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy for treatment of colic unrelated to the small colon. Results: The study population included 84 horses. Of horses with small colon lesions recovered from anaesthesia, the percentage that survived until discharge, one year and 2 years following surgery, was 91.0, 81.0 and 73.5%, respectively. Median survival time for horses in which a resection had been performed was 1029 vs. 3072 days in the nonresection group. Small colon cases were more likely to have shown a longer duration of colic signs prior to admission (P<0.001) and to develop post operative diarrhoea (P = 0.001) when compared with surgical controls. Conclusions: Lesions of the small colon carry a good prognosis for survival following surgery. Resection and anastomosis was the only factor associated with reduced long-term survival. Conclusions: This study provides information about lesion types and post operative survival that may be used to assist informed decision-making when managing these cases.
© 2012 EVJ Ltd.
Publication Date: 2012-11-23 PubMed ID: 23173766DOI: 10.1111/evj.12005Google 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 study explores the types of surgical lesions in horses, where issues related to the small colon resulted in abdominal pain. It also investigates the short- and long-term survival of these cases and identifies factors influencing survival. The researchers observed that small colon surgeries have good survival rates. However, surgeries involving resection and anastomosis were associated with reduced long-term survival.
Research Design
The researchers have convered three primary objectives in this study:
- Identify the types of surgical lesions in horses suffering from gut pain primarily caused by the small colon (descending colon).
- Analyse the short-term and long-term survival rates following surgeries and identify factors influencing these survival rates.
- Identify preoperative variables influencing the localization of a lesion to the small colon.
The study was based on clinical data and long-term follow-up of horses that underwent exploratory laparotomy – surgery where the abdomen is opened and the abdominal organs are examined – over a span of ten years.
Findings
The study involved 84 horses, and the survival percentages post-surgery were 91% until discharge, 81% after one year, and 73.5% after two years. Resection surgeries had a median survival time of 1029 days compared to 3072 days in non-resection cases.
- The research indicated that horses with small colon issues were likely to show longer colic signs before hospital admission.
- Post-surgery, these horses were also found more likely to develop diarrhoea when compared with control horses that underwent surgery for colic issues unrelated to the small colon.
Conclusions and Implications
A key takeaway from the study is that surgeries for small colon lesions generally yield good survival rates. However, it was found that surgeries involving resection and anastomosis led to reduced long-term survival. The study’s findings can help to provide information when making decisions about the surgical management of horses with small colon lesions. Overall, this research contributes valuable insights into the surgical management, expected survival rates, and potential complications of horses with small colon conditions.
Cite This Article
APA
de Bont MP, Proudman CJ, Archer DC.
(2012).
Surgical lesions of the small colon and post operative survival in a UK hospital population.
Equine Vet J, 45(4), 460-464.
https://doi.org/10.1111/evj.12005 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- School of Veterinary Science, Philip Leverhulme Equine Hospital, University of Liverpool, Neston, Wirral, UK. tdebont@liv.ac.uk
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Case-Control Studies
- Colon / pathology
- Colon / surgery
- Colonic Diseases / pathology
- Colonic Diseases / surgery
- Colonic Diseases / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases
- Horses / surgery
- Male
- Retrospective Studies
- United Kingdom
Citations
This article has been cited 2 times.- Lawson AL, Sherlock CE, Ireland JL, Mair TS. Equine nutrition in the post-operative colic: Survey of Diplomates of the American Colleges of Veterinary Internal Medicine and Veterinary Surgeons, and European Colleges of Equine Internal Medicine and Veterinary Surgeons. Equine Vet J 2021 Sep;53(5):1015-1024.
- Gillen A, Archer D, Ireland J, Rocchigiani G. Characterising equine abdominal lipomata: Can histological features improve the understanding of pathogenesis and risk?. Equine Vet J 2025 Nov;57(6):1490-1499.
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