title: Role of prokinetic drugs for treatment of postoperative ileus in the horse.
abstract: All horses undergoing coeliotomy for an acute abdominal crisis are at risk of developing ileus and should receive therapy aimed at promoting gastrointestinal function by restoring fluid and electrolyte balance. Adequate analgesia and prevention against peritonitis, bacteraemia and endotoxaemia should be provided. Horses that at the time of surgery have a strangulating or non-strangulating small intestinal obstruction should be considered to be at greater risk of developing a persistent ileus that is refractory to treatment than those horses with lesions involving the large intestine. In horses considered to be at greater risk of developing a persistent ileus, the use of prokinetic agents should be considered. Agents that may be used to improve gastrointestinal motility include adrenergic receptor antagonists, cholinergic agonists, benzamides, dopamine antagonists, macrolide antimicrobials, opiate receptor agonists and antagonists, somatostatin analogues and local anaesthetics. There are limited studies into the use of these agents in the horse. Until further research provides more information on motility disorders following intestinal surgery and the efficacy of prokinetic agents in this species, only selective use of some of these drugs can be recommended.
authors.affiliation: Rural Veterinary Centre, University of Sydney, Camden, New South Wales.
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Dart
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Hodgson
mesh_terms: D018674:Adrenergic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000779:Anesthetics, Local / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000818:Animals; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D020117:Cisapride; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005769:Gastrointestinal Motility / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology; D006736:Horses; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D018942:Macrolides; D008787:Metoclopramide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009294:Narcotics / Q000819:agonists; D015282:Octreotide / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*
chemical_list: D018674:Adrenergic Antagonists; D000779:Anesthetics, Local; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; D018492:Dopamine Antagonists; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D018942:Macrolides; D009292:Narcotic Antagonists; D009294:Narcotics; D010880:Piperidines; D008787:Metoclopramide; D015282:Octreotide; D020117:Cisapride