Postcastration eventration in 18 horses: the prognostic indicators for long-term survival (1985-1995)

Castration of horses is considered a common and routine surgical procedure, but the potential for complications is high. By far the most serious of th ese is eventration. The objectives of this study were to determine the long -term survival of horses undergoing surgical treatment of indirect (1) ingu inal eventration of the small intestine following castration, and to identi fy prognostic indicators for survival. The case records of 18 horses underg oing surgical treatment of postcastration eventration (PCE) between 1985 an d 1995 were reviewed. Follow-up information was obtained by telephone inter views 2 to 13 y postoperatively. A Cox proportional hazard regression model was fitted to determine which clinical features were of significant influe nce to survival. Clinical features with a significant negative influence on survival were an inguinal surgical approach for correction, an increased l ength of prolapsed bowel, and performance of bowel resection and anastomosi s. Significant postoperative complications developed in 89% of cases; 44% o f cases in the "inguinal" surgical approach group developed peritonitis, co mpared with 10% in the "midline" approach group. Of all horses in this stud y, 72% were discharged from the hospital; however, only 40% of horses in th e inguinal approach group were discharged. The long term survival rate (>1 y) for all horses in this study was 44%, with a median survival time of 3-1 /2 mo.