THE ACUTE ABDOMEN IN THE HORSE EPIDEMIOLOGIC CONSIDERATIONS

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Abstract
SUMMARY: A retrospective case history study of acute gastro‐intestinal disease in the horse was undertaken to determine: 1) if a statistically significant age, sex, or breed distribution existed; 2) if a correlation existed between duration of clinical signs and surgical complications; and, 3) if the lesions causing the signs significantly altered surgical prognosis. Significant age, sex and breed distributions existed. Duration of clinical signs ranged to 5 days with a definitive time trend existing for surgical correction of strangulating colics. Surgical correction was successful only within 24 hours of the appearance of clinical signs. Surgical prognosis for specific intraabdominal lesions ranged from 20% survival with strangulation obstructions to 84% with impaction.Differential diagnosis in horses with signs of acute abdominal pain is difficult, and techniques available for this purpose are limited. 3,7,8 Differentiation of specific lesions is necessary because the prognosis varies greatly with each, and the choice of treatment used depends on the nature of the lesion.1 Knowledge of significant age, sex, or breed related distributions would aid differential diagnosis. There are few epidemiologic reports available for use in the clinical management of these cases.4A recent report has dealt with the relative incidence of various types of intestinal obstructive diseases in the horse.7 The purpose of this retrospective case history study of gastrointestinal disorders in the horse was to determine:1. If a statistically significant age, sex or breed distribution existed for all or specific lesions;2. If a correlation existed between duration of clinical signs and surgical survival; and3. If the lesions causing the clinical signs significantly altered surgical prognosis.