Survival rate and complications of surgically treated horses with colic

240 horses with colic, which were treated surgically between January 1996 a nd December 1998, were evaluated. The cases were analysed by diagnosis, qua ntity of surgeries/horse, survival rates and causes of death. 175 of 240 su rgically treated horses with colic were cured (survival rate: 72.9%; correc ted survival rate: 77.4%). The large intestine was mostly affected (52.9% o f all cases; survival rate: 74 per cent, followed by the small intestine wi th 43.3 per cent (survival rate: 71.1%) and the uterus with 3.8 per cent (s urvival rate: 0.78). Hernia foraminis epiploica incarcerata was the most fr equent diagnosis made during laparotomy in the small intestine with 24 per cent and affected horses showed the lowest survival rate of 0.52. Torsio co li dominated in the large intestine with 66.1 per cent (survival rate: 0.75 ). Atonia of the intestine was the most immediate complication and the main cause of death. 24 of 185 horses had to have repeated surgeries. Twelve of 19 horses with two surgeries survived.