title: Effects of extensive resection of the small intestine in the pony.
abstract: Small intestinal resection (SIR) is not uncommonly done in surgical treatment of equine colic, but little is known about the long-term effects of SIR on horses and ponies. Twelve ponies, fed maintenance amounts of pelleted feed, were divided randomly into 4 treatment groups. D-Xylose absorption curves were recorded for each pony before surgical treatments were performed. Treatments consisted of control (ileal bypass) and 40%, 60%, or 80% SIR. D-Xylose absorption, serum electrolyte, and enzyme profiles for each animal were recorded once every 30 days for 180 days after surgical treatment, and the ponies were weighed every 2 weeks. The ponies then were necropsied and the remaining small and large intestine were examined. D-Xylose absorption values were depressed (P less than 0.05) in the ponies subjected to 40%, 60%, and 80% SIR as compared with the absorption values of the controls. The ponies with the 60% and 80% SIR lost body weight throughout the experimental period, whereas the controls and the ponies with 40% SIR maintained their base-line (presurgical manipulation) weight. Serum alkaline phosphatase activity was increased (P less than 0.05) in the ponies subjected to 60% and 80% SIR and significant biliary hyperplasia was present in those with 80% SIR. Extensive (greater than or equal to 60%) SIR severely compromised the capability of ponies to absorb nutrients and to derive adequate nutrition from a maintenance diet, resulting in changes in hepatic parenchyma and elevations in serum alkaline phosphatase. These changes are consistent with those reported in other species following SIR.
mesh_terms: D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001835:Body Weight; D003967:Diarrhea / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases; D006736:Horses / Q000502:physiology*; D007408:Intestinal Absorption; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D014994:Xylose / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D014994:Xylose; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase