Technical note: a 2-stage cecal cannulation technique in standing horses.

This research article presents a two-step technique for cecal cannulation in horses. This approach significantly reduces the risk of peritonitis from intestinal leakage, and also simplifies the procedure.

Objective and Method

• The purpose of the research was to develop a more reliable and safer method of cecal cannulation in horses. Cecal cannulation is a procedure used to procure intestine samples for digestive or nutritional studies. This technique is vitally important to further understanding of equine digestive physiology.
• The proposed method is a two-step process involving a right side laparotomy, where a small piece of the cecum’s base is exteriorized and stitched to the body wall in the first procedure. After a week or so, the second procedure is carried out, involving the removal of the exposed cecum portion and the insertion of the cannula.

Tests and Results

• In total, this technique was applied to ten horses. The first stage of the procedure generally went without a hitch, although one horse developed a cecal impaction that did not respond to medical treatment, causing a rupture in the cecum. Two others had mild, transient colic but responded well to medical treatment.
• The second stage of the procedure involved inserting a cannula after creating the stoma. This caused a transient colic response in 4 out of the 9 remaining horses, but all responded to pain therapy within 24 hours.
• It was observed that the puncture site fully healed within around 30 days.

Conclusions

• The researchers concluded that the 2-stage cecal cannulation technique offered several benefits over previously described methods. Of particular note was the reduced risk of peritonitis, a severe abdominal inflammation often caused by a rupture in the abdominal wall permitting the leakage of intestinal contents. The technical complexity of the procedure was also reduced, making the technique easier to perform.