Abdominal surgery in foals: a review of 119 cases (1977–1994)

Abstract

Summary The case records of 119 young horses (all less than age one year) that underwent an exploratory celiotomy during a 17 year period were examined to determine the surgical findings, short‐ and long‐term outcome, and prevalence of small intestinal disease compared to previous reports in the mature horse. Physical and laboratory values were compared for long‐term survivors vs. nonsurvivors and the frequency of post operative intra‐abdominal adhesions was determined. The most common cause for exploratory celiotomy was small intestinal strangulation, followed by enteritis and uroperitoneum. Six horses died during surgery, 23 were subjected to euthanasia at the time of surgery due to a grave prognosis, and 17 horses died or were destroyed after surgery, prior to discharge from the hospital; the short‐term survival was 61%. Nine horses were lost to follow‐up. Forty‐one horses survived long‐term (at least 6 months after surgery), 15 died or were subjected to euthanasia after discharge for reasons related to the prior abdominal surgery, and 8 died or were destroyed after discharge due to unrelated reasons, making the long‐term survival 45%. Fifty‐three (45%) of the horses presented as neonates, and 66 (55%) presented age 3–12 months. Uroperitoneum and meconium impaction were the most common disease in the neonate. Intussusception and enteritis were the most common diseases in older foals. The overall prevalence of small intestinal disease was 44%. Significant elevations in packed cell volume, heart rate, nucleated cell counts and total protein in abdominal fluid and rectal temperature were observed in nonsurvivors compared to survivors. Nonsurvivors had significantly decreased serum bicarbonate, chloride, sodium, and venous pH values. There was no evidence that location of the lesion affected long‐term survival. Horses with a simple obstruction had a higher survival percentage than those with a strangulating obstruction, and horses that underwent an intestinal resection had a lower long‐term survival than those horses undergoing only intestinal manipulation. Nineteen (33%) of the foals examined after the original surgery had evidence of intra‐abdominal adhesions. Nine of these (16%) had adhesions that caused a clinical problem.

Surgery: Short‐ and long‐term evaluation of surgical treatment of strangulating obstructions of the small intestine in horses: A review of 224 cases

“…Cable et al (20) found a significantly higher survival rate in foals in which the intestines were merely manipulated (79%) compared to foals in which resection was performed (29%). In contrast, Ducharme et al…”

“…Adhesive peritonitis is another common complication, although not all adhesions lead to clinical problems (8,20). Peritonitis may be caused by many factors, such as bowel ischaemia, endotoxaemia, contamination during surgery, severe bowel trauma resulting from excessive manipulation during surgery or a leaking anastomosis.…”

Laparotomy in the foal – evaluation of 98 cases (2001–2011)

“…Betrachtet wurden das Signalement, die Jahreszeit bei Klinikeinweisung, die Diagnose, die chirurgische Therapie, die Operationskomplikationen sowie der Erfolg der chirurgischen Therapie. Vatistas et al 1996, Cable et al 1997, Santschi et al 2000, Thrombotisch-embolische Koliken (Cable et al 1997) und Adhäsionen (Cable et al 1997, Santschi et al 2000 Cable et al (1997) 6 von 119 (5%) Tieren, die während der Operation verstarben. Andere Autoren differenzierten nicht zwischen der Anzahl der verstorbenen und euthanasierten Fohlen (Vatistas et al 1996, Santschi et al 2000, Bartmann et al 2001.…”

“…Retrospektive Studien zur Laparotomie des Fohlens existieren im Gegensatz zum erwachsenen Pferd bisher nur wenige , Vatistas et al 1996, Cable et al 1997, Singer und Livesey 1997, Santschi et al 2000, Bartmann et al 2001. Einige Autoren schließen in ihre Betrachtungen nur gastrointestinale Erkrankungen ein , Vatistas et al 1996, Santschi et al 2000.…”

“…Einige Autoren schließen in ihre Betrachtungen nur gastrointestinale Erkrankungen ein , Vatistas et al 1996, Santschi et al 2000. Andere Veröffentli-chungen berücksichtigen neben gastrointestinalen auch urogenitale Erkrankungen sowie Hernien (Cable et al 1997, Singer und Livesey 1997, Bartmann et al 2001. Die untersuchten Altersgruppen variieren von Neonaten im Alter von unter 2 Wochen ) bis hin zu Jungtieren in einem Alter von unter 2 Jahren (Santschi et al 2000).…”