Causes of colic and types requiring surgical intervention

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Medicine
• Equine Surgery
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Equine colic is frequently caused by strongyle larvae migration.
• Colic affects all intestinal tract sections, including impactions, torsions, herniations, and foreign bodies.
• Uterine diseases can also cause colic in mares, particularly around parturition.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the causes and surgical management of equine colic.
• To differentiate between small and large intestine obstructions amenable to surgery.
• To highlight the urgency and outcomes of specific surgical interventions for colic.

Main Methods:

• Review of common equine colic presentations and underlying pathologies.
• Categorization of small intestine obstructions requiring surgical intervention.
• Discussion of large intestine obstructions, including impactions and torsions.
• Description of diagnostic and surgical approaches like standing laparotomy and ventral midline laparotomy.

Main Results:

• Six types of small intestine obstructions are surgically treatable: volvulus, herniations, intussusceptions, stenosis, foreign bodies, and inflammatory lesions.
• Large intestine obstructions commonly include impactions and enteroliths, with torsions leading to rapid septic shock.
• Small colon impactions are treatable via standing laparotomy; colonic torsions have a survival rate of 30% or less, necessitating early surgery.

Conclusions:

• Surgical intervention is vital for obstructive lesions causing circulatory compromise in horses.
• Prompt diagnosis and surgical treatment are critical for improving outcomes in severe colic cases, especially colonic torsions.
• Understanding the specific types of intestinal obstructions guides appropriate surgical management and prognosis in equine colic.