title: Causes of gastrointestinal colic at an equine referral hospital in South Africa (1998-2007).
abstract: The most common causes of gastrointestinal colic at an equine referral hospital in South Africa were determined following retrieval of the medical records of horses admitted during a 10-year study period. The study included 935 horses of which 28% were admitted after hours. Most horses were Thoroughbreds (54%), male (57%), with a mean age of 8.2 years and originated from the Gauteng Province (81%). Heart rate (98%), mucous membrane colour (95%) and auscultation of the abdomen (91%) were the clinical data commonly obtained at admission. Packed cell volume, total serum protein and white cell count were recorded in 78%, 75% and 44% of horses respectively. Transrectal palpation (93%), nasogastric intubation (84%), intravenous catheterisation (74%) and abdominocentesis (53%) were the most frequently performed procedures. Medical intervention was performed in 558 horses (60%). The common causes of medical colic were impactions (39%), tympany (7%) and displacement of the large colon (6%). An exploratory laparotomy was performed in 331 horses (36%). The common causes of surgical colic were displacement (29%), impaction (22%) and small intestinal strangulating lesions (18%). Death occurred in 3% of horses, while euthanasia before medical intervention was performed in 4%. Overall, medical intervention was successful in 93% of horses and 67% in horses managed surgically. In conclusion, 55% of all the equine admissions responded to medical intervention and the recovery rate for horses receiving both medical and surgical intervention was comparable to that reported in other studies.
authors.affiliation: Section of Equine Medicine, Department of Companion Animal Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary Science, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X04, Onderstepoort, 0110 South Africa.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Voigt
authors.forename: M N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Saulez
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Donnellan
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gummow
mesh_terms: D039602:After-Hours Care; D000818:Animals; D003085:Colic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000662:veterinary*; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D005260:Female; D005767:Gastrointestinal Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D006736:Horses; D006762:Hospitals, Animal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013019:South Africa; D014102:Torsion Abnormality / Q000662:veterinary