Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 3: Long-term complications and survival.
Abstract: Few studies have evaluated long-term survival and complication rates in horses following surgical treatment of colic, making it difficult to offer realistic advice concerning long-term prognosis. Objective: To review the complications occurring after discharge from hospital and survival to >12 months after surgery of 300 horses undergoing exploratory laparotomy for acute colic. Pre-, intra- and post operative factors that affected long-term complications and long-term survival were assessed. Methods: History, clinical findings, surgical findings and procedures and post operative treatments of 300 consecutive surgical colic cases (1994-2001) were reviewed. Long-term follow-up information was retrieved from case records and telephone enquiries from owners. Results: The long-term (>12 months) survival rate for 204 horses discharged after colic surgery and for which follow-up information was available was 84%. The most common complication after discharge was colic, affecting 35.1% of horses following a single laparotomy. Colic was most common in horses that had had small intestinal obstructions, bowel resection or post operative ileus. Abdominal adhesions were most common in horses that presented with severe colic due to strangulation of small intestine. Ventral hernia formation occurred in 8% of horses, and was most common in horses that had had post operative wound drainage or infection. Conclusions: This study identified various factors that appear to predispose horses to long-term complications after colic surgery. Conclusions: Further evaluation of strategies that might reduce the incidence of such complications are needed; in particular, the value of intraperitoneal heparin should be evaluated, and procedures designed to reduce the rates of wound drainage and infection assessed.
Publication Date: 2005-07-21 PubMed ID: 16028618DOI: 10.2746/0425164054529445Google 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
- Research Support
- Non-U.S. Gov't
Summary
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This study investigates the survival and long-term complications in horses who have undergone surgical treatment for colic. The researchers examined data related to factors before, during, and after surgery. The long-term survival rate was found to be 84% and colic was identified as the most common complication post-surgery.
Methodology
- The study reviewed historical data, clinical findings, surgical procedures, and postoperative treatments for 300 acute colic cases which happened between 1994 and 2001.
- Information for the long-term follow-up was obtained from case records and telephone inquiries to horse owners.
Results
- The long-term survival rate (>12 months post-surgery) was 84% among the 204 horses that were discharged after colic surgery.
- Colic was identified as the most common complication after discharge, affecting 35.1% of horses who underwent a single laparotomy.
- Colic was most common in horses that had small intestinal obstructions, bowel resection, or postoperative ileus.
- Abdominal adhesions were most common in horses that presented with severe colic due to strangulation of the small intestine.
- Ventral hernia formation occurred in 8% of horses and was most common in those who had postoperative wound drainage or infection.
Conclusions
- The study identified various factors that appear to predispose horses to long-term complications after colic surgery.
- The study urges a need for further evaluation of strategies that might reduce the incidence of such complications.
- Specific recommendations include evaluating the value of intraperitoneal heparin therapy and assessing procedures designed to reduce the rates of wound infection and drainage.
Cite This Article
APA
Mair TS, Smith LJ.
(2005).
Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 3: Long-term complications and survival.
Equine Vet J, 37(4), 310-314.
https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164054529445 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Mereworth, Maidstone, Kent ME18 5GS, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Colic / mortality
- Colic / surgery
- Colic / veterinary
- Female
- Hernia, Ventral / epidemiology
- Hernia, Ventral / veterinary
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Ileus / epidemiology
- Ileus / mortality
- Ileus / veterinary
- Intestine, Large / pathology
- Intestine, Large / surgery
- Intestine, Small / pathology
- Intestine, Small / surgery
- Laparotomy / veterinary
- Male
- Postoperative Complications / epidemiology
- Postoperative Complications / mortality
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Risk Factors
- Surgical Wound Infection / epidemiology
- Surgical Wound Infection / mortality
- Surgical Wound Infection / veterinary
- Survival Analysis
- Time Factors
- Tissue Adhesions / epidemiology
- Tissue Adhesions / mortality
- Tissue Adhesions / veterinary
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 16 times.- Griessel TS, Muñoz Morán JA, Byaruhanga C, Smit Y. A single-centre retrospective study of surgical site infection following equine colic surgery (2013‒2021). Vet Rec 2025 May 17;196(10):e5227.
- Matthews LB, Sanz M, Sellon DC. Long-term outcome after colic surgery: retrospective study of 106 horses in the USA (2014-2021). Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1235198.
- Ruff J, Zetterstrom S, Boone L, Hofmeister E, Smith C, Epstein K, Blikslager A, Fogle C, Burke M. Retrospective analysis of postoperative complications following surgical treatment of ileal impaction in horses managed with manual decompression compared to jejunal enterotomy. Front Vet Sci 2023;10:1156678.
- Straticò P, Varasano V, Palozzo A, Guerri G, Celani G, Revelant O, Petrizzi L. Retrospective Study on Risk Factors and Short-Term Outcome of Horses Referred for Colic from 2016 to 2022. Vet Sci 2022 Oct 3;9(10).
- Dybkjær E, Steffensen KF, Honoré ML, Dinesen MA, Christophersen MT, Pihl TH. Short-term survival rates of 1397 horses referred for colic from 2010 to 2018. Acta Vet Scand 2022 May 7;64(1):11.
- Kos VK, Kramaric P, Brloznik M. Packed cell volume and heart rate to predict medical and surgical cases and their short-term survival in horses with gastrointestinal-induced colic. Can Vet J 2022 Apr;63(4):365-372.
- Crosa AT, Katzman SA, Kelleher ME, Nieto JE, Kilcoyne I, Dechant JE. Incidence of incisional complications after exploratory celiotomy in equids affected with enterolithiasis. Can Vet J 2020 Oct;61(10):1085-1091.
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- Rosser J, Brounts S, Slone D, Lynch T, Livesey M, Hughes F, Clark C. Pelvic flexure enterotomy closure in the horse with a TA-90 stapling device: a retrospective clinical study of 84 cases (2001-2008). Can Vet J 2012 Jun;53(6):643-7.
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