Technique for long-term ileal cannulation in ponies

A T-cannula was fitted permanently into the ileum of ten mature ponies to quantify the role of the prececal and postileal segments of the digestive tract in equine nutrition studies. The ponies were anesthetized, positioned in left lateral recumbency, and the distal small intestine was exteriorized through a right paralumbar incision. A silastic T-cannula was inserted through a 2-cm longitudinal incision into the lumen of the ileum, on the antimesenteric surface, and sutured to the ileum. The stem of the cannula was exteriorized through a 2-cm circular skin incision, 6 cm caudal to the 16th rib. Nine ponies were alive with functional cannulas after six months. Primary complications associated with cannulation of the ileum were clinical signs of depression and dehydration produced by leakage of intestinal contents around the stem of the cannula. These complications were resolved with fluid and electrolyte therapy.