Surgical management of intussusception in the horse.

This research article discusses a 14-year-long investigation into the surgical treatment of intussusception in horses, in which 27 of 310 horses were found to have an intussusception involving the small intestine or cecum. It explores the clinical signs, operative findings, and surgical techniques used in these cases and provides further evidence on the role of the tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata as a contributing factor.

Details of the Study

• The study was conducted over a period of 14 years and involved a total of 310 horses that underwent laparotomy due to abdominal pain.
• Of these 310 horses, 27 were found to have an intussusception, a medical condition where a part of the intestine slips into an adjacent part and causes obstruction. It was discovered that the small intestine was involved in 16 cases while the cecum (part of the large intestine) was involved in 11 cases.
• The research gathered data on the clinical signs of the condition, operative findings from the laparotomies, and the surgical techniques used for treating the intussusception in horses.

Findings and Conclusions

• The researchers documented and studied the clinical signs, operative findings, and techniques used to alleviate the obstruction successfully.
• In their evaluation of potential predisposing factors, they discovered that the tapeworm Anoplocephala perfoliata played a significant role in causing intussusceptions, particularly those involving the ileum (part of the small intestine) and caecum.
• The research thus highlights the importance of proper parasite control in horses as a preventive measure for intussusception.