• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.102-107
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• 2014

This study was conducted to analyze the results of inhalation anesthesia performed at the equine hospital of Korea Racing Authority (KRA) and to find out the influencing factors on mortality during and/or after inhalation anesthesia. Among 585 cases of anesthesia, orthopedic surgery (410) was performed the most frequently, followed by colic surgery (85) and upper airway surgery (45). Twenty out of 585 horses were either euthanized or died during and/or after anesthesia. Among those twenty horses, fourteen horses received colic surgery, three received orthopedic surgery, and three others received upper airway surgery. The major causes of mortality were rupture of intestine in colic surgery and airway obstruction during recovery in upper airway surgery. Myopathy, refracture, laminitis were the causes of mortality in orthopedic surgery. Consequently, the horses that received colic and upper airway surgeries showed significantly high mortality rate rather than horses that received orthopedic surgery (p < 0.01). According to the results, horses that received colic surgery showed the highest mortality rate from euthanasia due to poor and grave prognosis. To reduce the perioperative mortality of horses, it is recommended to perform perioperative intensive care for colic surgery and careful monitoring for upper airway surgery during recovery.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.36-40
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• 2015

Equine colic is a major concern in equine industry due to high morbidity and mortality rates. The purpose of this study was to establish mortality rates during medically and surgically treated colic and to identify potential prognostic indicators for mortality of equine colic in Korea. The overall mortality rate was 18/119 (15%). The 93 cases (78%) were treated medically and 26 cases (22%) surgically out of the 119 records reviewed. The mortality rate in small intestinal lesion was 7/9 (78%) and strangulating lesion was 10/11 (91%). The significance between individual factors and prognosis of equine colic was not valid but high frequency rate was found in ${\leq}3$ years age (59%) and male (50%). In dead group showed higher, rectal temperature and heart rate than those of survived group. The mortality rate was significantly high in the pale mucous membrane color and severe pain and decreased intestinal motility. In laboratory factors, dead group showed lower level of platelet than survived group, and had higher values of RBC, hemoglobin, PCV with significance (P < 0.05). Group with increased enzyme activity of CK, LDH, glucose showed poor prognosis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.354-359
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• 2023

This case report describes the clinical presentation and successful surgical repair of a diaphragmatic hernia-related small intestinal strangulation in a neonatal foal. A nine-day-old foal presented with colic signs and respiratory distress. History taking showed that the dam of the foal experienced difficulty during delivery, and the owner assisted in delivery by pulling on the foal. Radiography and ultrasonography confirmed the diaphragmatic rent and the presence of a small intestine within the thoracic cavity. Surgical intervention was required to repair the diaphragmatic defect and address the intestinal strangulation. The diaphragm was reconstructed, and the nonviable incarcerated portion of the small intestine was resected and anastomosed using an end-to-end technique. This unusual case report provides insights into the surgical repair and outcomes of an acquired diaphragmatic hernia in a neonatal foal.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.6
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• pp.81.1-81.12
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• 2023

Background: The incidence of colic and the outcomes of colic surgery have not been surveyed in racetracks in Korea. Objectives: This study examined the incidence, mortality, and case fatality of colic and investigated the effects of age and sex after an exploratory celiotomy on the long-term survival rate (return to racing), subsequent racing performance, and career longevity. Methods: The incidence, mortality, and case fatalities of colic were examined over an 11-year period. The records of 40 horses that had undergone a celiotomy, after participating in at least one race and 75 race-matched control horses were analyzed. The racing performance and career length of the horses that returned to racing post-surgery were compared with a control group. Results: The annual incidence, fatality rate of colic, and annual mortality rate at Seoul Racecourse were 6.5, 2.8 per 100 horse-years, and 0.2 deaths cases per 100 horse-years, respectively. Of the 40 horses that underwent colic surgery, 26 (65%) returned to racing. The likelihood of returning to racing decreased with increasing age of the horses, and geldings had a lower probability of returning. While the performance in the five preoperative races between the two groups was not significantly different, a significant decrease in racing performance was observed after the surgery date (p < 0.01). Horses that underwent colic surgery did not show a significant decrease in career length. Conclusions: Surgical treatment for colic at the age of three and four years had a negative impact on the racing performance. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in career longevity between the two groups.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.374-379
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• 2015

A 10-year-old gelding Warmblood weighing 560 kg was referred to J&C Equine Hospital with the history of hyperpnea, depression, pawing, and rolling for 7 hours. According to the results of clinical and ultrasound examination, it was considered that intestines were distended with thickened wall. The horse had been treated with lactated Ringers' solution (14 L, IV), flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg, IV), and mineral oil (1 L, PO), but he did not show any responses to those treatments. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and identified incarcerated small intestine through the epiploic foramen. The horse received resection and anastomosis of the entrapped small intestine. After surgery, the horse was treated with intensive postoperative care of fluid therapy (5 L with 20 mEq/L KCl, every 2 hours), flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg, IV, sid), antibiotics (penicillin 22,000 IU/kg, IV, qid and gentamicin 6.6 mg/kg, IV, sid), lidocaine constant rate infusion (bolus 1.3 mg/kg over 15 minutes then 0.05 mg/kg/minute), common nutritional supplements, nasogastric intubation every 2 hours and trunk bandage. Postoperative feeding program had started with small amount of hay every 4 hours and gradually increased to normal amount till 5 days. At 77 days after surgery, he showed sudden outbreak of colic and was euthanized. The causes of colic were small intestinal strangulation by passing through the mesenteric rents and postoperative adhesion between small intestines. According to the results, it is recommended to perform perioperative intensive care of horse with colic and to use several methods to prevent adhesions during abdominal surgery of horses.

• Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.234-235
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• 2015

• Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.356-357
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• 2015

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.253-257
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• 2010

A 3-year-old female Thoroughbred racehorse was presented following the accidental oral and skin administration of amitraz. This case report describes the clinical signs and the treatment of this horse. Clinical signs of amitraz toxicosis are associated with the stimulation of alpha2-adrenergic receptors. Amitraz is seldom fatal because the effects can be reversed by alpha2-adrenergic antagonists. The horse displayed typical clinical signs of colic, including pawing, small hard drops, tranquillisation, depression, ataxia, muscular incoordination and impaction colic lasting up to 7 days. The syndrome was accompanied by mild dehydration. The horse survived after persistent symptomatic treatment, including the giving of intravenous fluids, antibiotics, multiple doses of mineral oil per os, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and dexamethasone intramuscularly and intravenously.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.39 no.6
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• pp.405-410
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• 2022

An 11-year-old thoroughbred post-partum broodmare presented with the symptoms of colic. The physical and clinical examinations indicated a large colon displacement or volvulus. Immediate surgical intervention was performed, and a strangulating large colon volvulus (LCV) was defined as a volvulus of >540° in the counterclockwise direction. After correcting and assessing the gut viability, approximately 80% of the entire large colon was resected and anastomosed using an end-to-end technique. With supportive care after surgery, the horse regained its appetite and vitality without significant clinical complications and was discharged on postoperative day 9. This report presents the first surgical correction using a large colon resection and anastomosis (LCRA) and the critical care for a strangulating LCV in a horse in Korea. This case enhances the current knowledge of clinical LCV and the related considerations for treatment.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.319-322
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• 2010

A 3-day-old Appaloosa colt was examined because of acute onset of ataxia, left-sided head tilt, fever and heart murmur. The foal continued to nurse but became increasingly depressed and mild colic. On plain radiological examination, the foal was normal. Uroperitoneum was diagnosed following abdominocentesis. Postmortem examination revealed bladder rupture. The lesion was in the dorsomedial part of the bladder wall. We suggested that the cause of bladder rupture was parturient trauma. Even though the rupture was associated with trauma, the margin of rupture of bladder was clearly smooth and regular.