title: Evidence-based gastrointestinal surgery in horses.
abstract: Colic surgery is now performed at many equine hospitals around the world. Despite the tremendous improvements in survival rates over the past 30 years, the morbidity and mortality rates remain relatively high. This fact, coupled with the high cost of treatment, makes it important to apply evidence-based medicine principles to establish the best possible treatment plans and surgical techniques whereby the outcomes can be optimized. Factors affecting survival rates and rates of major complications (incisional complications and postoperative ileus) are discussed. Preoperative assessment and postoperative care are not considered in this review.
authors.affiliation: Bell Equine Veterinary Clinic, Mereworth, Maidstone, Kent, United Kingdom. tim.mair@btinternet.com <tim.mair@btinternet.com>
authors.forename: Tim S
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Mair
authors.forename: Luisa J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Ceri E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Sherlock
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003085:Colic / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery*; D006736:Horses; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D012307:Risk Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome