Comparison of two laparoscopic treatments for experimentally induced abdominal adhesions in pony foals.
OBJECTIVE
To compare laparoscopic dissection with-laparoscopic dissection combined with abdominal instillation of ferric hyaluronate gel for the treatment of experimentally induced adhesions in pony foals.


METHODS
12 healthy pony foals.


METHODS
A serosal abrasion method was used to create adhesions at 4 sites on the jejunum (day 0). At day 7 laparoscopy was performed and the adhesions observed in each foal were recorded. In group-1 foals (n = 6), the adhesions were separated laparoscopically (treatment 1). In group-2 foals (n = 6), 300 mL of 0.5% ferric hyaluronate gel was infused into the abdomen after the adhesions were separated laparoscopically (treatment 2). At day 24, terminal laparoscopy was performed and the adhesions observed were recorded. Total number of adhesions within each group was compared between day 7 and 24. Data were analyzed to determine whether an association existed between the number of adhesions on day 24 and treatment type.


RESULTS
At day 24, the number of adhesions was significantly decreased within each group, compared with the number of adhesions at day 7 (group-1 foals, 10 vs 22 adhesions; group-2 foals, 3 vs 20 adhesions). Treatment 1 was associated with a significantly higher number of adhesions at day 24, compared with treatment 2 (odds ratio, 4.54; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 23.02).


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal instillation of 0.5% ferric hyaluronate gel after laparoscopic dissection was a more effective technique than laparoscopic dissection alone to treat experimentally induced adhesions in pony foals. Laparoscopic adhesiolysis following abdominal surgery in foals is a safe and effective technique.
Lansdowne
Jennifer L
JL
Department of Clinical Studies, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Canada.
Bouré
Ludovic P
LP
Pearce
Simon G
SG
Kerr
Carolyn L
CL
Caswell
Jeff L
JL
D000818:Animals; D006736:Horses / Q000601:surgery*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000601:surgery*; D010535:Laparoscopy / Q000379:methods*; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*