Retrospective analysis of the results of 151 exploratory laparotomies in horses with gastrointestinal disease

• Published in: Equine veterinary journal Vol. 25; no. 5; p. 427
• Main Authors: Phillips, T J, Walmsley, J P
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01-09-1993
• Subjects: Animals; Cause of Death; Cecal Diseases - mortality; Cecal Diseases - surgery; Cecal Diseases - veterinary; Colonic Diseases - mortality; Colonic Diseases - surgery; Colonic Diseases - veterinary; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Gastrointestinal Diseases - mortality; Gastrointestinal Diseases - surgery; Gastrointestinal Diseases - veterinary; Horse Diseases - mortality; Horse Diseases - surgery; Horses; Intestinal Obstruction - mortality; Intestinal Obstruction - surgery; Intestinal Obstruction - veterinary; Intestine, Large; Intestine, Small; Laparotomy - veterinary; Male; Postoperative Complications - mortality; Postoperative Complications - veterinary; Retrospective Studies; Surgical Wound Infection - mortality; Surgical Wound Infection - veterinary; Survival Rate; Time Factors; Tissue Adhesions - mortality; Tissue Adhesions - veterinary
• ISSN: 0425-1644
• DOI: 10.1111/j.2042-3306.1993.tb02985.x

Of 149 horses that underwent 151 exploratory laparotomies for gastrointestinal disorders from September 1987 to May 1991, 107 (72%) were discharged from the hospital: 100 (66%) survived for > 7 months, 94 of which returned to their intended use. Survival rate (64/80) for horses with caecum/large colon obstruction was significantly (P = 0.003) higher than for horses with small intestinal obstruction (33/64). Prolonged surgery was associated with significantly (P < 0.001) lower survival rates than short surgical time. In the large intestine, survival rate (15/29) for strangulated obstructions was significantly (P < 0.001) lower than for simple obstructions (52/58). Generalised septic peritonitis (9 horses) and bowel obstruction associated with adhesions (8 horses) were the most frequent fatal post-operative complications. The rate (6/44) of post-operative adhesions after small intestinal obstruction was significantly (P = 0.006) higher than that (2/68) following large intestinal obstruction. The rate (8/55) of post-operative adhesion formation in horses that required enterotomy/enterectomy was significantly (P = 0.003) higher than that (0/57) in horses that did not require gut wall incisions. Incisional suppuration developed in 42 horses and occurred with a significantly (P = 0.028) higher rate (32/72) after caecum/large colon lesions than after obstruction at other sites, (10/42) but was not associated with known contamination at the time of surgery (P = 0.806).