Cecal amputation within the right ventral colon for surgical treatment of nonreducible cecocolic intussusception in 8 horses

Objectives-To report a surgical technique for treatment of nonreducible cec ocolic intussusception and outcome in 8 horses. Study Design-Retrospective study. Animals-Eight horses with nonreducible cecocolic intussusception treated by cecal amputation through a right ventral colotomy. Methods-Data were obtained from medical records and telephone conversations by using a standardized questionnaire. The large colon was exteriorized an d, if necessary, evacuated of its contents through a pelvic flexure enterot omy. A second colotomy was made on the ventral surface of the right ventral colon (RVC) centered over or immediately distal to the intussusceptum. In most horses, attempts to manually reduce the intussusception by pushing the cecum from within the RVC through the cecocolic orifice were unsuccessful. Invaginated cecum was then pulled into the RVC and amputated; the cecum wa s either ligated with umbilical tape or sutured proximal to the site of amp utation. After amputation, the remainder of the invaginated cecum was reduc ed. After further resection to healthy tissue, the typhlectomy was closed w ith a double-inverting suture pattern. Results-The median horse age was 2 years (range, 1 to 8 years). Duration of colic ranged from 6 hours to 6 months. Median surgical time was 180 minute s (range, 135 to 300 minutes). Median duration of antibiotic therapy was 7 days (range, 5 to 14 days). Median duration of hospitalization was 12 days (range, 6 to 21 days). All horses survived to hospital discharge. One horse died 3 months postoperatively; however, the remainder survived (median sur vival, 30 months; range, 6 to 96 months) and returned to or exceeded previo us function. Clinical Relevance-Despite some contamination during surgery, horses with n onreducible cecocolic intussusception that underwent this method of surgica l treatment had a good prognosis. (C) Copyright 2000 by The American Colleg e of Veterinary Surgeons.