A retrospective study of surgically treated horses suffering from colic due to lesions located in different parts of the intestines

In the period 1986-1994 a retrospective study was performed on 2,264 horses with colic at the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine of the Ghent University/B elgium. An exploratory laparotomy was performed in 1,069 horses. In this st udy the observed pathological conditions in the different parts of the gast rointestinal tract are thoroughly discussed in depth. The origin of colic symptoms was determined by rectal examination or explor atory laparotomy: it was localized in the ascending colon in 31% of the hor ses and in the small intestine in 25% of them. Less frequently observed loc alizations were the caecum (8%), the descending colon (3%), the stomach (3% ) and the rectum (1%). The localization of colic pathology could not or not exactly be determined in 28% of the cases. Short time survival rates were used. The overall survival rate of conservative and surgical treatment of h orses with pathology of the descending colon and pathology of the caecum an d/or ascending colon was respectively 80% and 75%. The survival rate of hor ses with pathology of the small intestine, the rectum and the stomach was l ess favorable: 54%, 35% and 32% respectively. The risk of developing colic was statistically analyzed according to breed, gender and age. Foals less than I year old ran a significantly higher risk of small intestinal volvulus. Geldings and Warmblood horses had a higher i ncidence of incarceration through the foramen omentale (epiploicon), wherea s females and foals had a lower incidence. An inguinal hernia was significa ntly more often observed in foals and stallions, and significantly less in mares and geldings. Horses aged 9-12 years showed a higher risk of caecal t ympany, whereas ponies, males, foals and horses aged 1-4 years ran an incre ased risk of (ileo)caecal intussusception. Mares and horses aged 1-4 or 5-8 years had a higher incidence of pelvic flexure impaction. The incidence of right colonic displacement was lower in males and foals. Older horses and mares were at significantly greater risk of developing a colon torsion. A h igher incidence of left dorsal displacement was observed in geldings and a lower incidence in females.