Colic in the horse:: a retrospective study.: Prevalence, results of conservative and surgical treatment

A retrospective study was performed on 2,264 horses pesented with colicn at Ghent University (Belgium) in the period 1986-1994. In this article, parameters not directly related to a specific type of colic are discussed. Approximately 32% of all horses addmitted to the clinic of Internal Diseases were presented because of colic. The colic pathology was observed mainly during the spring. A significantly great number of mares and warmblood riding horses was observed mainly during the spring. A significantly great number of mares and warmblood riding horses were presented, and significantly lower number of stallions and halfblood horses. The prevalence of colic increased with age, stagnating around age 13. One thousand one hundred sixty-eight exploratory laparotomies were performed on 1,069 horses. During the period 1986-1994 the number of surgical interventions gradually increased. The short-term survival rate also increased progressively: by the end of the period studied, it had reached 87% for conservative treatment and 73% for surgical corrections. A variable successn rate after surgery was observed among the different surgeons. The determining factors for this variable success were the surgeon's individual experience in abdominal surgery and the period in which the exploratory laparotomies were performed. the success rate after non-invasive or minimally invasive surgical techniques was significantly better than after the use of invasive techniques. The most commonly observed postoperative complications were thrombophlebitis, diarrhea, wound infection and laminitis.