Studies on the surgical treatment of obstructive colic in equine
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Date
2015
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Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana
Abstract
The present clinical study was conducted in two parts: In first part record of all colic cases presented at GADVASU Teaching Veterinary Clinical Complex of Ludhiana was maintained and out of these 9 cases were referred for surgical intervention. Most of the cases were presented in winter season which might be due to tendency of horses to drink less water. Patients for colic surgery were selected for exploratory celiotomy on an emergency basis having moderate to severe, persistent abdominal pain, lack of response to treatment with analgesic drugs and absence of intestinal borborygami. Abnormal findings on per rectum palpation and hematology, serum chemistry results helped in decision making and prognostic evaluation. The results showed that heart rate, respiration rate and PCV (mean±SE) on the day of surgery was higher in non-survivors than survivor intestinal colic patients. Non survivors also showed stress leukogram. Blood lactate level (mean±SE) was significantly higher in non-survivors than survivors at day of surgery and decreased post-operatively in survivors. Peritoneal fluid analysis showed increased mature neutrophils at day 2nd and 3rd of surgery. Peritoneal fluid total protein and lactate decreased on subsequent days post-operatively in survivors. Small colon fecolith (n=4) was observed in majority of cases followed by large colon impaction (n=3), pelvic flexure fecolith (n=2). Histopathology of intestinal biopsy samples showed marked disarray of muscles with stretching of epithelium and marked dialation of underlying crypts. Immunohistochemistry showed marked increase in expression of TNF-a and IL-8 IN the intestinal biopsy samples. Short-term survivability (discharge from hospital) was 66.66% and Long-term survival in horses with colic surgery was estimated to be 55.55% and all the horses returned to its normal function. Colic surgery has fairly high short-term and long term success rate