Standing flank laparotomy for colic: 37 cases

Area of Science:

• Veterinary Surgery
• Equine Medicine
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Standing flank laparotomy is an alternative to ventral midline laparotomy in horses with colic.
• This procedure avoids general anesthesia, offers good access to certain abdominal regions, and is less expensive.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report outcomes of standing flank laparotomy for various peritoneal and intestinal diseases in horses.
• To evaluate the efficacy and limitations of this surgical approach.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series analysis of records from horses undergoing standing flank laparotomy between 2003 and 2020.
• Data collected from five veterinary hospitals.

Main Results:

• Thirty-seven equids (30 horses, 6 ponies, 1 donkey) underwent the procedure.
• Survival rate was 54%, with higher success in caecal/large colon diseases compared to peritoneal diseases.
• Intraoperative complications and severe lesions led to euthanasia in some cases.

Conclusions:

• Standing flank laparotomy is a viable option for specific equine colic cases, though ventral midline laparotomy remains standard.
• Inadequate peritoneal analgesia can cause intolerance to exploration and negatively affect outcomes.