ILEAL INTUSSUSCEPTION IN 16 YOUNG THOROUGHBREDS

The paper describes the outcome of 16 cases of short ileal-ileal intus susception in young Thoroughbred horses. The intussusception was often associated with chronic or intermittent low grade abdominal pain. At laparotomy, only the intussusception was reduced in one horse; in anot her, a myotomy of the thickened stenosed intussusception was carried o ut after reduction. In 11 cases an ileocaecal bypass anastomosis was p erformed proximal to the intussusception after its reduction. One hors e was subjected to euthanasia during operation because of irreversible intestinal wall damage and another because of intestinal rupture. One foal had a cardiac arrest following reduction of the intussusception. One horse was subjected to euthanasia 4 months post-operatively becau se of intractable abdominal pain caused by intestinal adhesions. Altho ugh several horses suffered episodes of post-operative abdominal pain, and 2 were subjected to a second laparotomy, 12 horses made an eventu al complete recovery.