The reservoir function of the equine cecum and ventral large colon–its relation to chronic non-surgical obstructive disease with colic.

This research investigates the functional abnormalities in horse intestines that cause non-surgical colic, suggesting that an electrical ‘pacemaker’ near the pelvic flexure might be malfunctioning and disrupting normal digestive processes.

Article Overview

The article primarily focuses on chronic non-surgical obstructive colic disease in horses, specifically detailing a study concerning the functional abnormalities of the horse’s large intestine which often leads to colic. The authors suggest a likely cause could be an electrical ‘pacemaker’, located near the pelvic flexure, experiencing malfunctions that disrupt its regular operations, in terms of digestion and waste disposal.

Functional Abnormality and Colic

• As the research highlights, majority of the cases of colic in horses are not effectively resolved by surgical emergencies. They are often the result of functional abnormalities within the large intestine.
• The study sharpens its focus on such digestion disturbances in the large intestine, noting that no visible lesions or infarctions are found on examination of the gastrointestinal tract.
• The authors bring to light the possibility of an electrical ‘pacemaker’ near the pelvic flexure, hypothesizing that a disarrangement could lead to the impairment of its regular functions, thus causing colic.

The Role of the ‘Pacemaker’

• The supposed ‘pacemaker’ plays a crucial role in the digestion process. Regular functioning involves retention of larger particulate herbage in the cecum and the proximal areas of the colon for fermentation and microbial protein synthesis.
• Simultaneously, it prompts the pushing forward of better hydrolyzed material and gas towards the rectum, crucial for healthy digestion and excretion.
• Any malfunctioning or disruption in this ‘pacemaker’ can lead to digestion irregularities that result in colic.

Experimental Setup

• The authors conducted an experiment involving a 455 kg horse which was chronically fistulated, meaning it had an unnatural passageway between an abscess, hollow organ or body cavity.
• A cecal fistula, large enough to admit a forearm and elbow, was implemented for this study just behind the dorsal plica, redirecting the ileal inflow into the body of the horse.