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Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 4: Early (acute) relaparotomy.
Abstract: Early (acute) relaparotomy after surgery for equine colic is widely considered to be an acceptable treatment option for management of certain post operative complications. However, there is relatively little published information about resulting complication rates and short- and long-term outcomes. Objective: To document the proportions, indications, complication rates and survival rates of horses undergoing acute relaparatomy following colic surgery. Methods: History, clinical findings, surgical findings and procedures, post operative treatments and outcome 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: Acute relaparotomy was performed in 27/254 horses (10.6%) that recovered from initial general anaesthesia. The indications for relaparotomy included persistent pain, persistent ileus, peritonitis and wound breakdown. Of these 27 horses, 21 (77.8%) recovered from the second surgery, of which 8 (29.6%) died during the immediate post operative period. Thirteen of the 27 horses (48.2%) were discharged. Of these 13 horses, 5 (38.5%) were re-admitted to the hospital for surgical treatment of a subsequent bout of colic. The long-term survival rate for the 27 horses that underwent relaparotomy was 22.2%. Colic following discharge after relaparotomy was recorded in 69.2% of cases. Conclusions: Relaparotomy is necessary in approximately 10% of horses undergoing surgery for acute colic. Persistent pain and post operative ileus were the most common indications. The short-term survival rate for horses requiring relaparotomy was approximately 50% and the long-term survival rate 22%. Nearly 40% of horses surviving relaparotomy developed episodes of acute colic that necessitated further surgery. Conclusions: Owners of horses requiring early (acute) relaparotomy should be advised of the high complication rates for this procedure.
Publication Date: 2005-07-21 PubMed ID: 16028619DOI: 10.2746/0425164054529454Google 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 research study reviews the outcomes and complications of horses who underwent early reoperation following surgery for colic. It reveals that around 10% of horses needed relaparotomy, with a short-term survival rate of approximately 50% and a long-term survival rate of 22%.
Methodology
- The study examined the records of 300 horses who underwent surgical treatment for colic between 1994 and 2001.
- Based on these records, the researchers analyzed pertinent information, including the history of each horse, clinical and surgical findings, post-operative treatment, and outcome.
- Follow-up data were compiled through case records and phone inquiries with horse owners.
Results
- Of the 300 horses, 27 (10.6%) required relaparotomy after initial surgery.
- The main reasons for reoperation were persistent pain, consistent ileus, peritonitis, and wound complications.
- From these 27 horses, 21 (77.8%) survived the second surgery, whereas 8 (29.6%) died during the immediate post-operative period.
- Only 13 horses (48.2%) out of the 27 were eventually discharged.
- Five of the discharged horses (38.5%) had to be readmitted for surgical treatment due to a subsequent bout of colic.
- The long-term survival rate for this group who underwent relaparotomy was calculated to be 22.2%.
- Incidentally, nearly 70% of the cases saw a recurrence of colic following discharge after the second surgery.
Conclusions
- The study showed that about 10% of horses required a second surgery due to complications following initial surgical treatment for acute colic.
- The most common reasons for this relaparotomy were persistent pain and post-operative ileus.
- The research found that the short-term survival rate for horses needing a second surgery was around 50%, whereas the long-term survival rate was considerably lower, at 22%.
- Nearly 40% of the horses who survived a relaparotomy developed further episodes of acute colic that required additional surgical intervention.
- Given the data, this study advises owners of horses needing acute relaparotomy of potential high complication rates associated with this procedure.
Cite This Article
APA
Mair TS, Smith LJ.
(2005).
Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 4: Early (acute) relaparotomy.
Equine Vet J, 37(4), 315-318.
https://doi.org/10.2746/0425164054529454 Publication
Researcher Affiliations
- Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Mereworth, Maidstone, Kent ME18 5GS, UK.
MeSH Terms
- Animals
- Colic / mortality
- Colic / surgery
- Colic / veterinary
- Female
- Horse Diseases / mortality
- Horse Diseases / surgery
- Horses
- Ileus / epidemiology
- Ileus / mortality
- Ileus / surgery
- Ileus / veterinary
- Intestine, Small / pathology
- Laparotomy / mortality
- Laparotomy / statistics & numerical data
- Laparotomy / veterinary
- Male
- Postoperative Complications / mortality
- Postoperative Complications / surgery
- Postoperative Complications / veterinary
- Recurrence
- Reoperation / mortality
- Reoperation / statistics & numerical data
- Reoperation / veterinary
- Retrospective Studies
- Survival Analysis
- Time Factors
- Treatment Outcome
Citations
This article has been cited 5 times.- Verhaar N, Geburek F. Real-time ancillary diagnostics for intraoperative assessment of intestinal viability in horses-looking for answers across species. Vet Surg 2025 May;54(4):648-664.
- Bayless RL, Cooper BL, Sheats MK. Extracted Plasma Cell-Free DNA Concentrations Are Elevated in Colic Patients with Systemic Inflammation. Vet Sci 2024 Sep 12;11(9).
- Iglesias-García M, Rodríguez Hurtado I, Ortiz-Díez G, De la Calle Del Barrio J, Fernández Pérez C, Gómez Lucas R. Predictive Models for Equine Emergency Exploratory Laparotomy in Spain: Pre-, Intra-, and Post-Operative-Mortality-Associated Factors. Animals (Basel) 2022 May 27;12(11).
- Whyard JM, Brounts SH. Complications and survival in horses with surgically confirmed right dorsal displacement of the large colon. Can Vet J 2019 Apr;60(4):381-385.
- Immonen IA, Karikoski N, Mykkänen A, Niemelä T, Junnila J, Tulamo RM. Long-term follow-up on recovery, return to use and sporting activity: a retrospective study of 236 operated colic horses in Finland (2006-2012). Acta Vet Scand 2017 Jan 5;59(1):5.
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