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Surgical Treatment of Colic Results in 181 Horses
Author(s) -
DUCHARME NORMAND G.,
HACKETT RICHARD P.,
DUCHARME GILES R.,
LONG SUSAN
Publication year - 1983
Publication title -
veterinary surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.652
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1532-950X
pISSN - 0161-3499
DOI - 10.1111/j.1532-950x.1983.tb00745.x
Subject(s) - medicine , volvulus , ileus , exploratory laparotomy , surgery , peritonitis , abdominal pain , horse , mortality rate , shock (circulatory) , bowel obstruction , paleontology , biology
A retrospective study was performed of 181 horses that underwent an exploratory celiotomy because of acute abdominal disease. Forty‐four horses died or were euthanized during surgery. Of the 137 horses that recovered from anesthesia, 72 died of associated diseases or complications, 86 were discharged from the hospital of which 60 survived at least 7 months. Horses with disorders affecting the small intestine had a significantly lower survival rate. Causes of death early in the postoperative period included long bone fracture, shock, ileus, gastric rupture, and peritonitis. After discharge from the hospital, deaths were attributed to colic of unknown cause, malabsorption syndrome, adhesive small bowel obstruction, small and large intestinal volvulus, perforated bowel, and laminitis. Of the 60 horses that were alive at the time of survey, 93.3% had returned to their previous use. A second occurrence of the initial acute abdominal disease was not documented in any horse.