Use of web-based data collection to evaluate analgesic administration and the decision for surgery in horses with colic.

The research paper presents a prospective study evaluating the use of web-based data collection in gauging the need for abdominal surgery in horses suffering from colic. The study looked into the correlation between the response of horses to initial analgesic administration and the requirement of surgery.

Objective

• The paper had two main objectives. First, to establish an internet-based data collection system that could be leveraged to record prospective data on colic in horses. Second, to determine whether a horse’s failure to respond to initial analgesic administration signals the necessity for abdominal surgery.

Methodology

• Investigators developed a survey to understand if the response to the administration of an analgesic during a veterinarian’s inaugural examination of a horse with colic correlated to a requirement for surgical intervention.
• Veterinarians were reached out through listservs of the American Association for Equine Practitioners (AAEP) and Emergency Communication Network (ECN) inviting submissions of cases using a defined website portal.

Results

• A total of 27 veterinarians submitted information regarding 119 cases of colic, out of which 28 required surgical intervention.
• The study found a significant connection between the need for surgery and the severity of pain observed during the first examination.
• Continuous pain or the recurrence of pain post-administration of one or more analgesics and the requirement of a second analgesic treatment were also significantly related with the need for surgery.
• Abnormally detected during rectal examination had no relation with the need for surgery. However, the total absence or decrease in intestinal sounds dramatically increased the likelihood of surgery.
• The web-based data collection methodology proved successful, obtaining all data points for each case.

Conclusion

• The study corroborated the use of therapy response assessment by veterinarians as a viable strategy to decide on the need for abdominal surgery.
• In cases where a specific diagnosis is unclear, the lack of response or recurrence of colic symptoms after analgesic administration should be taken as an indication suggesting the necessity of surgery.
• The study also highlighted that web-based collection of data provides an opportunity for veterinary practitioners to contribute to clinical research by supplying real-time, prospective data.