Long-term survival and complications of colic surgery in horses: analysis of 331 cases

Abstract

Three hundred and thirty-one (331) horses out of 371 cases (i.e. 351 individuals discharged from the clinic) were followed up in order to evaluate long-term survival rate and complications after colic surgery. Twenty horses were subjected to surgery twice during the period of this study. Out of the sample of 331 patients, 302 animals (91.2%) survived at least 11 months after the operation. Twenty-nine horses (8.8%) died or had to be euthanized. Colic episode was considered to be the cause of death in 23 (79.3%) out of 29 patients. Seven colic patients had to be reoperated. The remaining six patients died of a cause unrelated to the gastrointestinal disease. Seven out of 302 long-term surviving patients needed the second operation within the first 11 months after the first surgery. Colic episode was reoperated in another 15 patients after 12 months to 4 years after the first operation. Conservative treatment was necessary in another 10 long-term surviving horses. In eight long-term surviving horses and in one patient that did not survive 11 months, incision hernias were identified as the postoperative complication. Twenty-one horses out of 331 were subjected to relaparotomy during their first hospitalization. Eighteen out of these (85.7%) survived 11 months after the surgery; the remaining three were euthanized within six months due to colic.

Sporting activity following colic surgery in horses: A retrospective study

“…The most common long‐term complication after abdominal surgery is colic (Mair and Smith 2005b; Mezerova and Zert 2008; Krista and Kuebelbeck 2009; Pierce et al . 2010) with the period of highest risk for the first episode of colic being up to 100 days post operatively.…”

“…Mezerova and Zert (2008) reported a long‐term survival of 91.2% at least 11 months after colic surgery. Mair and Smith (2005b) found a long‐term survival rate of 84% for horses at more than 12 months post surgery.…”

“…Several studies evaluating survival following ventral midline exploratory celiotomy for colic in horses have reported long‐term survival rates approximately one year post surgery to vary from 66 to 91% (Proudman et al . 2002a; Mair and Smith 2005b; Mezerova and Zert 2008; Krista and Kuebelbeck 2009; Müller et al . 2009).…”

Prevention of post operative complications following surgical treatment of equine colic: Current evidence

“…Post operative pain/colic is a common complication following surgical management of colic, occurring in 11–35% of horses post operatively . It is also the most common cause of post operative death or euthanasia and post operative pain during hospitalisation has been significantly associated with reduced survival . The prevalence of post operative colic varies depending on the location of the primary gastrointestinal lesion.…”

Jejunocecostomy in a Grant's zebra (Equus quagga boehmi)

“…The postoperative outcome following small intestinal surgery is characterised not only by lower survival, but also by higher complication rates in comparison with large intestinal surgery, as demonstrated by the ample research that has been published with respect to postoperative management following acute abdominal surgery. [2][3][4][5] The main short-term complications are postoperative ileus (POI), abdominal pain, adhesions and reperfusion injury, while long-term complications include repeated colic episodes and adhesions. 5,6 Zebras' digestive anatomy and physiology is similar to that of horses.…”