ABSTRACT OF THE WEEK

Veterinary surgery : VS : the official journal of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons
Volume 46 | Issue 3 (April 2017)

Duodenojejunal mesenteric rents: Survival and complications after surgical correction in 38 broodmares (2006-2014).

Vet Surg. April 2017;46(3):367-375.

Shauna P Lawless¹, Laura A Werner², W True Baker³, Robert J Hunt⁴, Noah D Cohen⁵

¹ Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.; ² Davidson Surgical Center, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, Kentucky.; ³ Davidson Surgical Center, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, Kentucky.; ⁴ Davidson Surgical Center, Hagyard Equine Medical Institute, Lexington, Kentucky.; ⁵ Department of Large Animal Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

Abstract

OBJECTIVES:To describe short-term and long-term survival of horses with duodenojejunal mesenteric rents, and to examine the association of selected preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors with survival or colic after discharge, in horses with duodenojejunal mesenteric rents.

STUDY DESIGN:Retrospective case series.

ANIMALS:Horses undergoing surgery for correction of small intestinal lesions secondary to duodenojejunal mesenteric rents (n = 38).

METHODS:Medical records (2006-2014) of horses admitted to a referral hospital in Kentucky were reviewed. Data for preoperative and intraoperative findings, postoperative complications, and short-term survival to discharge were recorded Long-term (>12 months) survival was determined by follow-up telephone query. Association of factors with survival and colic after discharge was determined using logistic regression.

RESULTS:All 38 horses were Thoroughbred broodmares. Short-term survival was 76% overall and 88% among horses that recovered from general anesthesia. Long-term survival was 74% overall and 97% for mares that survived to discharge. All long-term survivors and 85% of mares that recovered from general anesthesia returned to use for breeding. The odds of survival were significantly higher for horses ≤10 years of age (OR = 6.2; 95% CI, 1.1-34.4). Failure to close the rent was associated with increased odds of colic after discharge, but had no effect on survival.

CONCLUSION:Short-term and long-term survival was high relative to prior reports and mares surviving to discharge following mesenteric rent surgery had an excellent prognosis for long-term survival. Based on our data, closure of rents is recommended to prevent recurrence of colic, but may be unnecessary for survival.

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