title: Loop colostomy for management of rectal tears and small-colon injuries in horses: 10 cases (1976-1989).
abstract: Loop colostomy was performed in 10 horses as treatment for grade-III rectal tears (n = 6 horses), small-colon infarction (n = 2 horses), perirectal abscess and stenosis (n = 1 horse), and small-colon stricture (n = 1 horse). In 7 horses, the colostomy was constructed through a single incision low in the left flank, with closure of the incision around the stoma (single-incision technique). In 3 horses, 2 of which had colostomy performed as a standing procedure, the selected segment of small colon was placed from a flank incision into a separate, small incision low in the left flank (double-incision technique). Five horses underwent colostomy reversal (at 18 to 63 days) and 2 of these horses, both with grade-III rectal tears, recovered completely. Of 8 horses that did not survive, 6 died from the primary disease or associated complications. Technical problems associated with colostomy accounted for death of 2 horses. One horse had gastric rupture attributable to suture occlusion of the small intestine after colostomy reversal, and another horse had complications of incisional infection after repair of a peristomal hernia. Small-colon prolapse through the stoma necessitated premature reversal of the colostomy in a horse that was euthanatized because of worsening laminitis. Minor complications of the colostomy procedure were partial stomal dehiscence (n = 4 horses), partial dehiscence of the flank wound after colostomy reversal (n = 2 horses), and small ventral midline hernia after colostomy reversal (n = 1 horse). Loop colostomy may be of benefit to horses with rectal tears, provided it is done soon after the tear occurs.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Studies, New Bolton Center, George D. Widener Hospital for Large Animals, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Kennett Square 19348-1692.
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Freeman
authors.forename: D W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Richardson
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Tulleners
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Orsini
authors.forename: W J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Donawick
authors.forename: J B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Madison
authors.forename: M W
authors.initials: MW
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Beroza
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003106:Colon / Q000293:injuries*; D003125:Colostomy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000662:veterinary; D012007:Rectum / Q000293:injuries*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary; D016896:Treatment Outcome