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Survey on outcomes of emergency standing caesarean section in equids.
Abstract: Standing caesarian section (C-section) in mares is poorly documented in the literature. It is reportedly straightforward to perform for veterinarians experienced in bovine practice and is more accessible and less expensive than recumbent techniques. The study aimed to create a survey to report the outcomes of in field C-section through a flank laparotomy with the mare standing under sedation. Unassigned: A survey was developed for field veterinarians practicing standing C-sections. Data were collected regarding the veterinarian's experience and practice type, details about the mare and the reasons for performing the standing C-section in the field, the mare's condition during the procedure, as well as information on asepsis protocols, anesthesia, surgical techniques, medications used, and the follow-up of complications, including the survival outcomes of both the mare and the foal. Complication and survival rates were then used to determine potential risk factors. Fisher's exact tests were used, and significance was set at p < 0.05. Unassigned: 35 questionnaires, each addressing one C-section case, completed by a total of 19 veterinarians were considered. The most important factor for performing the surgery was the economic concern. The main postoperative complication of the surgery was infection/dehiscence of the wound (12/34). The mare survival rate at 1 year was 74% (25/34). The foal survival rate at 6 months was 20% (7/35). More live foals were delivered when dystocia lasted less than 2 h. Unassigned: This survey shows that performing a standing C-section in the field might be a viable technique, both economically and in terms of mare's and foal's survival.
Copyright © 2025 de la Rebière de Pouyade, Binard, Deleuze and Ponthier.
Publication Date: 2025-04-24 PubMed ID: 40343373PubMed Central: PMC12061027DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2025.1548978Google 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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This research article investigates the outcomes of emergency standing caesarean sections (C-sections) performed on equids (horses) using a survey that collected data from veterinarians. The results showed that despite the main postoperative complication being infection, the survival rate for mares was quite high, leading researchers to suggest that the socio-economic benefits and survival rates make this method a feasible option.
Study Design and Methodology
- The researchers developed a questionnaire aimed at field veterinarians who have practiced standing C-sections. The focus of the survey was to capture data around their experience and the circumstances surrounding the procedures they performed.
- Details about the mare, the reasons for performing the C-section, the condition of the mare during the procedure, and information about asepsis protocols were all included in the survey.
- Additionally, the survey looked into the anesthesia used, surgical techniques, medications used, and the management of any complications that arose post-operatively. Information was further gathered on the survival outcomes of both the mare and the foal.
- These details were used to compute complication and survival rates, which were analyzed to identify any potential risk factors. Fisher’s exact tests were employed for this statistical measurement with significance set below 0.05.
Results and Findings
- Out of 35 questionnaires compiled by 19 different veterinarians, the prime reason given for opting for this type of surgical intervention was primarily economical.
- The most recurrent postoperative complication was infection or wound dehiscence (splitting open of the surgical wound), which occurred in 12 out of 34 reported cases.
- Despite these complications, the survival rate of mares one year after surgery was reasonably high at 74 percent.
- However, the survival rate for foals six months post-operation was significantly lower at 20 percent.
- Interestingly, the researchers found that a greater number of live foals were delivered when dystocia (difficult labor) lasted for a duration under two hours.
Conclusion
- The findings of the survey suggest that performing an emergency standing C-section in the field could be a practical technique when considering both economic and survival aspects.
- The results, however, highlight the necessity of prompt intervention in case of dystocia to increase the likelihood of the foal’s survival, and the importance of proper postoperative care to mitigate the risk of infection.
Cite This Article
APA
de la Rebière de Pouyade G, Binard M, Deleuze S, Ponthier J.
(2025).
Survey on outcomes of emergency standing caesarean section in equids.
Front Vet Sci, 12, 1548978.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1548978 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Clinical Department of Equids, Surgery and Orthopedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- FARAH Comparative Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Clinical Department of Equids, Surgery and Orthopedics, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- FARAH Comparative Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Clinical Department of Equids, Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- FARAH Comparative Veterinary Medicine, University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
- Clinical Department of Equids, Theriogenology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Liège, Liège, Belgium.
Conflict of Interest Statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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