Survey of 79 referral colic cases.

This research article provides an account of 79 horses studied at a referral clinic due to colic issues. It details their diagnoses, treatments received, issues faced post surgery, and recovery rate.

Study Subjects and Tests

• The subjects of the study were 79 horses that were presented to a specialized clinic for evaluation of colic (abdominal pain).
• The diagnoses were made based on clinical, surgical, and/or necropsy examination.

Medical Treatment

• Out of the total, 21 horses were diagnosed with conditions that were treatable with medication.
• All of these horses were discharged after successful treatment.

Surgical Interventions

• 44 horses of the total were subjected to exploratory laparotomies.
• In some cases, this surgical procedure was performed as a diagnostic measure before euthanasia.

Mortality and Complications

• The study found that mortality rate was the highest in cases that involved problems with the small intestine.
• Issues with the large colon followed, and the third cause was problems with the small colon.
• Post-surgery complications included peritonitis (inflammation of the abdominal lining), infarction (tissue death due to blood supply cut-off), visceral rupture, and acute circulatory failure.
• The conditions which generally resulted in a fatal outcome included colitis (inflammation of the colon), visceral rupture, and thromboembolic infarction (artery blockage due to blood clot).

Recovery Rate

• The overall recovery rate for all the 79 horses that were studied was approximately 50%.