Surgical treatment for colic in the foal (67 cases): 1980-1992.

This research paper investigates the success of surgical operations in the treatment of colic in young foals. It suggests that the majority of foals recover from anesthesia and are discharged from the hospital, but a much smaller percentage survive beyond two years post-surgery, particularly when dealing with strangulating intestinal lesions or when the foal is less than two weeks old.

Study Design and Outcome

• The study is based on the cases of 67 foals, all younger than 150 days, that underwent a ventral celiotomy, a surgical procedure to treat colic.
• Of these foals, 51 (or 82%) managed to recover post-anesthesia, and 42 (63%) were released from the hospital.
• Out of 51 foals that recovered from anesthesia, three (6%) had to undergo a repeat celiotomy.

Long-Term Survival and Post-Surgical Complications

• Long-term follow up (at least 2 years post-surgery) was managed to be obtained on 36 foals.
• 29 out of those 51 foals that initially recovered from anesthesia were alive two years following their surgery, which illustrates a long-term survival rate of 57%.
• The paper also found that in 8 (or 17%) of the foals that recovered from general anesthesia, adhesions were identified, and these foals were subsequently euthanized due to recurrent colic, suggesting a significant post-surgical complication.

Impact of Strangulating Lesions and Age on Survival Rate

• The presence of strangulating lesions showed a significant effect on survival rate. Only 19% of foals dealing with such lesions survived for more than 2 years post-surgery, compared to 69% survival in foals with non-strangulating lesions.
• Similarly, the age of the foals at the point of admission showed an impact on the survival rates. Only 10% of foals that were less than a fortnight old managed to survive, compared to a significantly higher survival rate of 45.8% in foals between the ages of 15 and 150 days.