Use of colonic luminal pressure to predict outcome after surgical treatment of strangulating large colon volvulus in horses.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the relationship of colonic luminal pressure (CLP) measurements to outcome in horses with large colon volvulus (LCV) after either manual correction or large colon resection and anastomosis (LCRA).

STUDY DESIGN

Retrospective study.

ANIMALS

Horses (n=57) that had LCV.

METHODS

Records for horses with LCV (March 1997-December 2003) were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were strangulating LCV proximal to the cecocolic ligament (>270 degrees), recorded CLP, and successful recovery from anesthesia. CLP measurements and survival/mortality rates were compared between horses that had manual correction (M) or LCRA (R).

RESULTS

Of 57 horses, 27 had M and 30 had LCRA. For group M, CLP measurements had a sensitivity of 0.60 and specificity of 0.77 for predicting survival, whereas for group R, sensitivity was 0.50 and specificity was 0.54.

CONCLUSION

In our LCV population, elevated CLP measurements had poor accuracy for predicting outcome in horses after surgical correction, especially after LCRA.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE

CLP measurements based on a single hospital population of horses with LCV should be used with caution for other hospital populations of LCV. CLP may be only one of many variables needed for predicting outcome of horses with strangulating LCV, especially after LCRA.