Cecal amputation within the right ventral colon for surgical treatment of nonreducible cecocolic intussusception in 8 horses.
OBJECTIVE
To report a surgical technique for treatment of nonreducible cecocolic intussusception and outcome in 8 horses.


METHODS
Retrospective study.


METHODS
Eight horses with nonreducible cecocolic intussusception treated by cecal amputation through a right ventral colotomy.


METHODS
Data were obtained from medical records and telephone conversations by using a standardized questionnaire. The large colon was exteriorized and, if necessary, evacuated of its contents through a pelvic flexure enterotomy. A second colotomy was made on the ventral surface of the right ventral colon (RVC) centered over or immediately distal to the intussusceptum. In most horses, attempts to manually reduce the intussusception by pushing the cecum from within the RVC through the cecocolic orifice were unsuccessful. Invaginated cecum was then pulled into the RVC and amputated; the cecum was either ligated with umbilical tape or sutured proximal to the site of amputation. After amputation, the remainder of the invaginated cecum was reduced. After further resection to healthy tissue, the typhlectomy was closed with a double-inverting suture pattern.


RESULTS
The median horse age was 2 years (range, 1 to 8 years). Duration of colic ranged from 6 hours to 6 months. Median surgical time was 180 minutes (range, 135 to 300 minutes). Median duration of antibiotic therapy was 7 days (range, 5 to 14 days). Median duration of hospitalization was 12 days (range, 6 to 21 days). All horses survived to hospital discharge. One horse died 3 months postoperatively; however, the remainder survived (median survival, 30 months; range, 6 to 96 months) and returned to or exceeded previous function.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite some contamination during surgery, horses with nonreducible cecocolic intussusception that underwent this method of surgical treatment had a good prognosis.
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge 70803, USA.
J D
JD
Hubert
J
J
Hardy
S J
SJ
Holcombe
R M
RM
Moore
D000818:Animals; D002429:Cecal Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D002432:Cecum / Q000601:surgery*; D003085:Colic / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D003106:Colon / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D007443:Intussusception / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D011996:Records / Q000662:veterinary; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D016896:Treatment Outcome