title: Use of pelvic flexure biopsy scores to predict short-term survival after large colon volvulus.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To (1) determine if histologic scores of pelvic flexure biopsies can predict short-term survival in horses with large colon volvulus (LCV) and (2) identify clinical variables predictive of short-term survival.
  
  
  METHODS
  Case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Horses (n = 28) with LCV (≥ 360°).
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records (January 2000-February 2008) of 28 horses were reviewed and clinical data recorded. Pelvic flexure biopsies were reviewed by 2 board-certified veterinary pathologists, unaware of clinical history and outcome, using 2 scoring systems. Exact logistic regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between histopathology scores (tissue viability), clinical data, and short-term survival (hospital discharge).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twenty-four horses (86%) survived to hospital discharge. Using a similar cutoff, neither scoring system was capable of predicting short-term survival. One scoring system failed to correctly predict clinical outcome in 5/25 horses (20%) and the other failed in 6/28 horses (22.4%). Heart rate (at admission and 24 hours after surgery) and packed cell volume 24 hours after surgery were significantly associated with short-term survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Histopathologic evaluation of pelvic flexure biopsies did not accurately predict short-term survival in a significant proportion of horses with LCV in this study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical & Radiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, William R. Pritchard Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, University of California-Davis, Davis, CA 95616, USA.
authors.forename: Ohad
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Verena K
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Affolter
authors.forename: Jaromir
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Benak
authors.forename: Philip H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Kass
authors.forename: Sarah S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Le Jeune
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001706:Biopsy; D003106:Colon / Q000473:pathology*; D003108:Colonic Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D006736:Horses; D045822:Intestinal Volvulus / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000662:veterinary*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis