Short- and long-term survival rates after colic surgery : a retrospective study of colic horses operated at UDS between 2019-2022

Abstract: Colic can be a serious condition in horses, that may require surgery. In this study, survival after colic laparotomy was investigated both in the short-term (until discharge from the hospital) and in the long-term (until 1-year after surgery). Survival of different diagnoses found during surgery was explored. Furthermore, factors associated with the survival of colic surgery was analysed, along with complications and the return to previous performance level. 137 acute colic surgeries at UDS between 2019-2022 met the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Kaplan-Meier curves were used in survival analysis, along with Cox-regression. Journals of the operated cases were retrospectively reviewed, and a questionnaire was sent out to owners with a horse discharged alive from the hospital. The overall short-term survival, from induction until discharge, was 62%, with 25% of cases euthanised during surgery. The long-term survival, from discharge until one year after surgery, was 92%. Cases with strangulating lesions, cases with resection of the intestine, and cases experiencing post-operative colic in the hospital were associated with decreased survival-time. This retrospective study can be applied to veterinary practice to provide recent and accurate data on the prognosis after colic surgery.