Technique for long-term right dorsal colon fistulization in ponies.

The research is about a surgical method developed for creating long-term right dorsal colon fistulas in ponies, which has been used successfully for gastrointestinal experiments.

Introduction to the Technique

• The study describes a technique for creating right dorsal colon fistulas, small artificially made passages or openings, in ponies.
• The purpose of this procedure is to prepare the ponies for gastrointestinal experiments that intend to further our understanding of horse digestive system, health and the potential treatments for related diseases.

Surgical Procedure

• The procedure was conducted in two stages on two healthy ponies.
• In the first stage, certain portions of the 16th and 17th ribs on the right side of the ponies were removed.
• After this, a surgical adhesion, which is the sticking together of internal body tissues, of 6 to 8 cm in diameter was created between the right dorsal colon and the body wall of the ponies.
• About two weeks after the first surgery, fistulas were created. This was done by making a sharp dissection (a surgical cut) through the formed adhesion into the interior (or lumen) of the colon.

Maintenance and Application

• These fistulas were maintained successfully for more than two years using de Pezzer catheters of size 45 F. A catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel to allow drainage or administration of fluids or gases.
• The ponies, now fitted with these fistulas, have been deployed for conducting gastrointestinal experiments.