Survival rates and post-operative complications after equine colic surgery.
A retrospective analysis of 74 cases that underwent surgery for colic was undertaken to determine short and long term survival rates and the incidence of post-operative complications. In 28 cases colic was related to small intestinal lesions and in 46 cases to large intestinal lesions. Pre-operative packed cell volume and heart rate were found to be inversely related to short-term survival. Twenty-five horses (34%) recovered from surgery and were discharged. Of 18 of these cases with available histories, 6 subsequently had one or more episodes of colic since surgery of which 5 eventually died or were euthanased due to further colic; the remaining 12 have remained free from recurrence of colic for longer than 6 months.
McCarthy
R N
RN
University of Sydney, Department of Veterinary Clinical Studies, Camden, New South Wales.
Hutchins
D R
DR
D000818:Animals; D003085:Colic / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies