title: Retrospective Comparison of Gastrosplenic Entrapment of the Small Intestine to Other Strangulating Small Intestinal Lesions in Adult Horses.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare clinical data of horses with entrapment of the small intestine by the gastrosplenic ligament (ESIGL) to clinical data of horses with other strangulating small intestinal lesions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical records (January 2001-December 2011) of horses that had exploratory celiotomy for acute abdominal pain associated with strangulating small intestinal lesions were reviewed. Signalment, physical examination findings, clinicopathologic variables, surgical findings and surgical procedures performed, postoperative data and short-term survival were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Clinical findings included excessive nasogastric reflux and abnormal abdominal fluid. Horses with ESIGL were significantly more likely to require intestinal resection and anastomosis and produced significantly less reflux postoperatively than horses with other strangulating small intestinal obstructions. Geldings were significantly more likely to develop ESIGL than mares or stallions. Quarter Horse or Quarter Horse type breeds were predisposed to ESIGL. Survival to hospital discharge in horses with ESIGL (16/22; 72.7%) was significantly higher than that of horses with other strangulating small intestinal obstructions (92/183; 50%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  ESIGL was more prevalent in this population of horses evaluated for acute abdominal pain than in previous studies, accounting for 10.7% of all horses with strangulating small intestinal lesions. Geldings and Quarter Horse or Quarter Horse related breeds are predisposed to this condition. The prognosis for survival to hospital discharge was fair to good.
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
authors.forename: Amanda L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Bergren
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
authors.forename: Brent C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Credille
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
authors.forename: Kira L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Epstein
authors.affiliation: Department of Large Animal Medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
authors.forename: Steeve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Giguère
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality / Q000601:surgery; D006736:Horses; D007415:Intestinal Obstruction / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery / Q000662:veterinary*; D007421:Intestine, Small / Q000601:surgery*; D008022:Ligaments; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000662:veterinary; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016019:Survival Analysis