Surgical management and long‐term outcome of umbilical infection in 65 foals (2010‐2015)

Abstract

Based on the results of this study, diagnosis and surgical management of umbilical infection in neonatal foals should be performed as early as possible, and a good outcome can be expected after surgery.

Short‐term outcome and risk factors for post‐operative complications following umbilical resection in 82 foals (2004–2016)

“…Short-term survival of foals undergoing surgical excision of umbilical remnants in the present study was favourable (89%) and similar to previous reports (77-91%) [2,5,10,13,15]. Septic arthritis and/or physitis adversely affected short-term outcome in this study and is in agreement with reports in foals presented for treatment of umbilical infection [3,10,13]. A large retrospective study evaluating outcome of foals admitted to an intensive care unit also reported infectious orthopaedic disorders as a risk factor for nonsurvival [15].…”

“…In another study of omphalectomy to treat umbilical infection, postoperative complications occurred often (30.7% of foals) and foals experiencing complications had decreased short-term survival [13]. Similarly, post-operative complications occurred in 39% of cases in the current study and were associated with negative short-term outcome.…”

“…Infections affecting the umbilical vein up to and including the liver can be challenging and carry a poorer prognosis, with up to 50% mortality [8,12]. A recent report on surgical management of umbilical infection in foals identified pre-existing septic arthritis, elevated serum creatinine concentration, young age of the foal, concurrent disorders and the development of post-operative complications, as negatively affecting short-term outcome [10,13]. Postoperative complications were common in this study and of the foals that developed post-operative complications, 45% did not survive [13].…”

“…A recent report on surgical management of umbilical infection in foals identified pre-existing septic arthritis, elevated serum creatinine concentration, young age of the foal, concurrent disorders and the development of post-operative complications, as negatively affecting short-term outcome [10,13]. Postoperative complications were common in this study and of the foals that developed post-operative complications, 45% did not survive [13]. Risk factors for development of post-operative complications following umbilical resection have not yet been described.…”

Highlights of recent clinically relevant papers

“…In this retrospective case series Gil Oreff and colleagues in Israel reported the short‐ and long‐term outcomes of surgical management of umbilical infection in foals .…”