Comparison of medical and surgical treatment for impaction of the small colon in horses: 84 cases (1986-1996)

Objective-To characterize clinical findings and compare effects of treatmen t and outcome for horses treated medically or surgically for impaction of t he small colon. Design-Retrospective study. Animals-84 horses with impaction of the small colon. Procedure-Medical records were reviewed for history, physical examination f indings, laboratory values, treatment, response to treatment, complications , outcome, and necropsy findings. Results-47 horses were treated medically and 37 horses were treated surgica lly. Significant differences between groups were not identified for duratio n of clinical signs, physical examination findings, or laboratory values. H orses treated surgically were hospitalized longer than horses treated medic ally. Complications recorded during hospitalization included diarrhea, jugu lar thrombophlebitis, recurrent colic, fever, and laminitis. Salmonella org anisms were isolated from 20 horses. Horses treated surgically were more li kely to have signs of moderate abdominal pain, gross abdominal distention, and positive results for culture of Salmonella spp than horses treated medi cally. Follow-up information was available for 27 hers es treated medically and 23 horses treated surgically. Twenty-four (72%) and 21 (75%) of the ho rses, respectively, survived and were being used for their intended purpose at least 1 year after treatment. Clinical implications-Colitis may be a predisposing factor for impaction of the smalt colon in horses. Prognosis for horses treated surgically or medi cally is fair.