Post-operative survival

• There has been a continued improvement in survival rates since surgeons first started performing colic surgery Abdomen: surgical approaches.
• This is due to a number of factors including:
  • Improved training in equine surgery, anesthesia and surgery.
  • Improved technology and therapeutic agents.
  • Research to understand factors associated with survival, eg optimal surgical techniques and post-operative management.
  • Knowledge of factors associated with post-operative survival enables us to more accurately predict the outcome following surgery.
  • Improved recognition of signs of colic and early referral by the owner and attending veterinarian, respectively.

Definitions

Overall survival following surgery

Survival for specific types of colic

Further Reading

Publications

Refereed papers

• Recent references from PubMed and VetMedResource.
• Bauck A G, Easley J T, Cleary O B et al (2017) Response to early repeat celiotomy in horses after a surgical treatment of jejunal strangulation. Vet Surg 46 (6), 843-850 PubMed.
• Southwood L L, Lindborg S, Myers M & Aceto H W (2017) Influence of Salmonella status on the long-term outcome of horses after colic surgery. Vet Surg 46 (6), 780-788 PubMed.
• Findley J A, Salem S, Burgess R & Archer D C (2017) Factors associated with survival of horses following relaparotomy. Equine Vet J 49 (4), 448-453 PubMed.
• Dunkel B, Mair T, Marr C M, Carnwath J & Bolt D M (2015) Indications, complications, and outcome of horses undergoing repeated celiotomy within 14 days after the first colic surgery: 95 cases (2005-2013). J Am Vet Med Assoc 246 (5), 540-546 PubMed.
• Hackett E S, Embertson R M, Hopper S A, Woodie J B & Ruggles A J (2015) Duration of disease influences survival to discharge of Thoroughbred mares with surgically treated large colon volvulus. Equine Vet J 47 (6), 650-654 PubMed.
• Stewart S, Southwood L L & Aceto H W (2014) Comparison of short- and long-term complications and survival following jejunojejunostomy, jejunoileostomy and jejunocaecostomy in 112 horses: 2005-2010. Equine Vet J 46 (3), 333-338 PubMed.
• Suthers J M, Pinchbeck G L, Proudman C J & Archer D C (2013) Survival of horses following strangulating large colon volvulus. Equine Vet J 45 (2), 219-223 PubMed.
• Freeman K D et al (2012) Post operative infection, pyrexia and perioperative antimicrobial drug use in surgical colic patients. Equine Vet J 44 (4), 476-481 PubMed.
• Freeman D E & Schaeffer D J (2005) Short-term survival after surgery for epiploic foramen entrapment compared with other strangulating diseases of the small intestine in horses. Equine Vet J 37 (4), 292-295 PubMed.
• Moore J N (2005) Five decades of colic: a view from thirty-five years on. Equine Vet J 37 (4), 285-286 PubMed.
• Mair T S & Smith L J (2005) Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 1: short-term survival following a single laparotomy. Equine Vet J 37 (4), 296-302 PubMed.
• Mair T S & Smith L J (2005) Survival and complication rates in 300 horses undergoing surgical treatment of colic. Part 3: long-term complications and survival. Equine Vet J 37 (4), 296-302 PubMed. 
• Proudman C J, Edwards G B, Barnes J & French N P (2005) Factors affecting long-term survival of horses recovering from surgery of the small intestine. Equine Vet J 37(4), 360-365 PubMed.
• Proudman C J, Edwards G B, Barnes J & French N P (2005) Modelling long-term survival of horses following surgery for large intestinal disease. Equine Vet J 37(4), 366-370 PubMed.
• Morton A J & Blickslager A T (2002) Surgical and post-operative factors influencing short-term survival of horses following small intestinal resection: 92 cases (1994 2001). Equine Vet J 34(5), 450-454 PubMed.
• Proudman C J, Smith J E, Edwards G B & French N P (2002) Long-term survival of equine surgical colic cases. Part 2: Modelling post-operative survival. Equine Vet J 34 (5), 438-443 PubMed.
• Freeman D E, Hammock P, Baker G J et al (2000) Short- and long-term survival and prevalence of post-operative ileus after small intestinal surgery in the horse. Equine Vet J 32, 42-51 PubMed.