Comparison of surgical and medical treatment of 49 postpartum mares with presumptive or confirmed uterine tears.
OBJECTIVE
To determine outcome after medical or surgical treatment of postpartum mares with confirmed or presumptive uterine tears.


METHODS
Case series.


METHODS
Postpartum mares were included if foaling had occurred within 7 days and uterine tear was confirmed surgically or, in medically treated mares, by palpation or presumed based on peritonitis. Information (age, breed; physical examination, laboratory and abdominocentesis findings; treatment, survival rates, length of hospital stay, treatments costs, and breeding performance after discharge) was obtained from the medical records (1990-2007). The influence of variables was compared between medical and surgical treatment, and between survivors and nonsurvivors.


RESULTS
For 49 mares, survival was 75%, with no significant difference between medical (11/15; 73%) or surgical (26/34; 76%) treatment. Admission variables, treatment cost, duration of hospital stay, and likelihood of foaling after discharge were not significantly different between treatment groups. Nonsurvivors were significantly more likely to have gastric reflux, higher heart rate, anion gap, lower total CO(2), and leukocyte count, compared with survivors. Tears were significantly (P=.018) more likely to occur in the right uterine horn than in other parts of the uterus.


CONCLUSIONS
Uterine tears occur more commonly in the uterine horns, more so the right horn, and survival is similar with surgical or medical treatment of uterine tears in postpartum mares.


CONCLUSIONS
Medical treatment may be a reasonable alternative to surgical treatment for uterine tears, although the severity of tear that can resolve with medical treatment is unknown, and medical therapy can be as expensive as surgical treatment.
Javsicas
Laura H
LH
Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL; and the Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, KY, USA.
Giguère
Steeve
S
Freeman
David E
DE
Rodgerson
Dwayne H
DH
Slovis
Nathan M
NM
D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy*; D006736:Horses / Q000601:surgery; D010298:Parity; D010538:Peritonitis / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014597:Uterine Rupture / Q000601:surgery / Q000628:therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D014599:Uterus / Q000601:surgery