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Intestinal decompression: preliminary study in the horse
Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association
|June 15, 1985
Summary
Nasoduodenal intubation in horses can prevent gastrointestinal distention after surgery. Successful decompression requires fasting the horse prior to the procedure, indicating a need for improved stomach emptying techniques.
Area of Science:
- Veterinary Surgery
- Equine Medicine
- Gastrointestinal Physiology
Background:
- Post-abdominal surgery, horses are susceptible to gastric and intestinal distention.
- Effective prevention strategies are crucial for reducing surgical complications and improving patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate a nasoduodenal (N-D) intubation technique for preventing gastric and intestinal distention in horses post-laparotomy.
- To assess the efficacy of N-D intubation in both experimental and clinical cases of intestinal obstruction.
Main Methods:
- Nasoduodenal tubes (single and double-lumen) were placed in the duodenum of 12 horses during laparotomy.
- Experimental horses underwent induced small intestinal occlusion, while clinical horses had natural obstructions corrected.
- Suction was applied post-operatively to decompress the cranial gastrointestinal tract.
Main Results:
- The N-D tube was successfully placed and functioned in 5 out of 12 horses.
- Horses that were fasted prior to surgery showed no post-surgical complications.
- The N-D tube's functionality was dependent on the horse being fasted pre-procedure.
Conclusions:
- Nasoduodenal intubation is a potentially effective method for gastrointestinal decompression in horses.
- Pre-operative fasting is critical for successful N-D tube function and preventing complications.
- Further development is needed to ensure reliable equine stomach emptying before N-D intubation for broader clinical application.