title: Surgical treatment for colic in the foal (67 cases): 1980-1992.
abstract: Sixty-seven foals age < 150 days underwent a ventral celiotomy for colic. Of the 67 foals, 51 foals (82%) recovered from anaesthesia and 42 (63%) were subsequently released from the hospital. Three (6%) of the 51 foals were subjected to a repeat celiotomy. Long term follow-up was available on 36 foals. Twenty-nine (57%) of the 51 foals recovered from anaesthesia, were alive at least 2 years following surgery. Adhesions were identified in 8 (17%) of the foals which recovered from general anaesthesia but were subsequently subjected to euthanasia due to recurrent colic. Strangulating lesions were associated with a lower survival rate. Nineteen per cent of foals with strangulating intestinal lesions survived > 2 years following surgery, compared to 69% of foals with nonstrangulating lesions. The age of foals on admission had a significant effect on survival. Only 10% of foals less than 14 days of age survived, compared to 45.8% of foals between age 15 and 150 days.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical and Radiological Sciences, Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California, Davis 95616, USA.
authors.forename: N J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Vatistas
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Snyder
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Wilson
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Drake
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hildebrand
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D003085:Colic / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D015994:Incidence; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000401:mortality / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome